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emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 10, 2013 / Proposed Rules
case TACs would have been limited to
the OY. Alternative 3 would have set
TACs to produce fishing rates equal to
the most recent 5-year average fishing
rates. Alternative 4 would have set
TACs equal to the lower limit of the
BSAI OY range. Alternative 5, the ‘‘no
action’’ alternative, would have set
TACs equal to zero.
The TACs associated with the
preferred harvest strategy are those
adopted by the Council in October 2013,
as per Alternative 2. OFLs and ABCs for
the species were based on
recommendations prepared by the
Council’s BSAI Plan Team in September
2013, and reviewed and modified by the
Council’s SSC in October 2013. The
Council based its TAC
recommendations on those of its AP,
which were consistent with the SSC’s
OFL and ABC recommendations.
Alternative 1 selects harvest rates that
will allow fishermen to harvest stocks at
the level of ABCs, unless total harvests
were constrained by the upper bound of
the BSAI OY of two million mt. As
shown in Table 1 of the preamble, the
sum of ABCs in 2014 and 2015 would
be about 2,686,688 mt, which falls
above the upper bound of the OY range.
The sum of TACs is equal to the sum of
ABCs. In this instance, Alternative 1 is
consistent with the preferred alternative
(Alternative 2), meets the objectives of
that action, and has small entity impacts
that are equivalent to the preferred
alternative.
Alternative 3 selects harvest rates
based on the most recent 5 years of
harvest rates (for species in Tiers 1
through 3) or for the most recent 5 years
of harvests (for species in Tiers 4
through 6). This alternative is
inconsistent with the objectives of this
action, (the Council’s preferred harvest
strategy) because it does not take
account of the most recent biological
information for this fishery. Harvest
rates are listed for each species category
for each year in the SAFE report (see
ADDRESSES).
Alternative 4 would lead to
significantly lower harvests of all
species and reduce TACs from the
upper end of the OY range in the BSAI,
to its lower end of 1.4 million mt.
Overall, this would reduce 2014 TACs
by about 30 percent, which would lead
to significant reductions in harvests of
species by small entities. While
reductions of this size would be
associated with offsetting price
increases, the size of these increases is
very uncertain. There are close
substitutes for BSAI groundfish species
available from the GOA. While
production declines in the BSAI would
undoubtedly be associated with
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significant price increases in the BSAI,
these increases would still be
constrained by production of
substitutes, and are very unlikely to
offset revenue declines from smaller
production. Thus, this alternative action
would have a detrimental impact on
small entities.
Alternative 5, which sets all harvests
equal to zero, would have a significant
adverse impact on small entities and
would be contrary to obligations to
achieve OY on a continuing basis, as
mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens
Act.
In 2012, there were 595 individual
catcher vessels with gross revenues less
than or equal to $5 million. Many of
these vessels are members of AFA
inshore pollock cooperatives, GOA
rockfish cooperatives, or crab
rationalization cooperatives, and, since
under the RFA it is the aggregate gross
receipts of all participating members of
the cooperative that must meet the
‘‘under $19 million’’ threshold, they are
considered to be large entities within
the meaning of the RFA. After
accounting for membership in these
cooperatives, NMFS estimates that there
are an estimated 428 small catcher
vessel entities remaining in the BSAI
groundfish sector. These 428 vessels
had average gross revenues of about $0.4
million.
In 2012, 45 catcher/processors grossed
less than $19 million. In 2012, seven
vessels in this group were affiliated
through membership in three
cooperatives (the Amendment 80
‘‘Alaska Seafood Cooperative,’’ the
Freezer Longline Conservation
Cooperative, or the crab rationalization
Intercooperative Exchange). After taking
account of these affiliations, NMFS
estimates that there are seven small
catcher/processor entities. These seven
entities had average gross revenues of
about $1.8 million in 2012.
The proposed harvest specifications
extend the current 2014 OFLs, ABCs,
and TACs to 2014 and 2015, except for
Pacific cod and Kamchatka flounder. As
noted in the IRFA, the Council may
modify these OFLs, ABCs, and TACs in
December 2013, when it reviews the
November 2013 meeting report from its
groundfish Plan Team, and the
December Council meeting reports of its
SSC and AP. Because most 2014 TACs
in the proposed 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications are unchanged from the
2014 harvest specification TACs, NMFS
does not expect adverse impacts on
small entities. Also, NMFS does not
expect any changes made by the Council
in December to be large enough to have
an impact on small entities.
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This action does not modify
recordkeeping or reporting
requirements, or duplicate, overlap, or
conflict with any Federal rules.
Adverse impacts on marine mammals
resulting from fishing activities
conducted under these harvest
specifications are discussed in the EIS
(see ADDRESSES), and in the 2012 SIR
(http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/
analyses/specs/2012–
13supplementaryinfoJan2012.pdf).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C.
1540(f); 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C.
3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 105–277; Pub. L. 106–
31; Pub. L. 106–554; Pub. L. 108–199; Pub.
L. 108–447; Pub. L. 109–241; Pub. L. 109–
479.
Dated: December 3, 2013.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
performing the functions and duties of the
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–29352 Filed 12–9–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 130925836–3836–01]
RIN 0648–XC895
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska;
Proposed 2014 and 2015 Harvest
Specifications for Groundfish
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed rule; request for
comments.
AGENCY:
NMFS proposes 2014 and
2015 harvest specifications,
apportionments, and Pacific halibut
prohibited species catch limits for the
groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska
(GOA). This action is necessary to
establish harvest limits for groundfish
during the 2014 and 2015 fishing years
and to accomplish the goals and
objectives of the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska. The intended effect of this
action is to conserve and manage the
groundfish resources in the GOA in
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act.
SUMMARY:
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Comments must be received by
January 9, 2014.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this document, identified by Docket
Number NOAA–NMFS–2013–0147, by
any one of the following methods:
• Electronic Submissions: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;
D=NOAA-NMFS-2013-0147, click the
‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the
required fields, and enter or attach your
comments.
• Mail: Submit written comments to
Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries
Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn:
Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O.
Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668.
• Fax: Address written comments to
Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries
Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn:
Ellen Sebastian. Fax comments to (907)
586–7557.
Instructions: Comments sent by any
other method, to any other address or
individual, or received after the end of
the comment period, may not be
considered by NMFS. All comments
received are a part of the public record
and will generally be posted for public
viewing on www.regulations.gov
without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address),
confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive information
submitted voluntarily by the sender will
be publicly accessible. NMFS will
accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/
A’’ in the required fields if you wish to
remain anonymous). Attachments to
electronic comments will be accepted in
Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF
file formats only.
Electronic copies of the Alaska
Groundfish Harvest Specifications Final
Environmental Impact Statement (Final
EIS), Supplementary Information Report
(SIR) to the EIS, and the Initial
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA)
prepared for this action may be obtained
from http://www.regulations.gov or from
the Alaska Region Web site at http://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The final 2012
Stock Assessment and Fishery
Evaluation (SAFE) report for the
groundfish resources of the GOA, dated
November 2012, is available from the
North Pacific Fishery Management
Council (Council) at 605 West 4th
Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK
99501, phone 907–271–2809, or from
the Council’s Web site at http://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc. The
draft 2013 SAFE report for the GOA is
available from the same source.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
DATES:
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Obren Davis, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the GOA groundfish fisheries
in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of
the GOA under the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska (FMP). The Council prepared the
FMP under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C.
1801, et seq. Regulations governing U.S.
fisheries and implementing the FMP
appear at 50 CFR parts 600, 679, and
680.
The FMP and its implementing
regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to
specify the total allowable catch (TAC)
for each target species, the sum of which
must be within the optimum yield (OY)
range of 116,000 to 800,000 metric tons
(mt). Section 679.20(c)(1) further
requires NMFS to publish and solicit
public comment on proposed annual
TACs, Pacific halibut prohibited species
catch (PSC) limits, and seasonal
allowances of pollock and Pacific cod.
The proposed harvest specifications in
Tables 1 through 20 of this document
satisfy these requirements. For 2014 and
2015, the sum of the proposed TAC
amounts is 427,068 mt.
Under § 679.20(c)(3), NMFS will
publish the final 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications after (1) considering
comments received within the comment
period (see DATES), (2) consulting with
the Council at its December 2013
meeting, (3) considering information
presented in the 2013 Supplementary
Information Report that assesses the
need to prepare a Supplemental EIS (see
ADDRESSES) and, (4) the final 2013 SAFE
report prepared for the 2014 and 2015
groundfish fisheries.
Other Actions Potentially Affecting the
2014 and 2015 Harvest Specifications
Amendment 95: Halibut Prohibited
Species Catch Limit Revisions
At its June 2012 meeting, the Council
took final action to reduce halibut PSC
limits in the GOA trawl and hook-andline groundfish fisheries. That action,
Amendment 95 to the FMP, would
change the process for setting halibut
PSC limits, as well as reducing such
limits from their current amounts.
Halibut PSC limits would be established
in Federal regulations and would
remain in effect until changed by
Secretarial approval of a subsequent
Council action to amend those
regulations.
NMFS published a notice of
availability for Amendment 95 on
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August 29, 2013 (78 FR 53419). The
public comment period for the notice of
availability on Amendment 95 ended on
October 28, 2013. The proposed rule
that would implement Amendment 95
published on September 17, 2013 (78 FR
57106), with public comments accepted
through October 17, 2013. That
proposed rule describes the various
reductions to the GOA halibut PSC
limits and other, associated components
of the action. If approved by the
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary),
Amendment 95 would reduce the GOA
halibut PSC limit for the groundfish
trawl gear sector and groundfish catcher
vessel (CV) hook-and-line gear sector by
15 percent. The proposed reductions
would be phased in over 3 years: 7
percent in year 1, 5 percent in year 2 (to
12 percent), and 3 percent in year 3 (for
a total of 15 percent). The proposed
reduction for the catcher/processor (C/
P) hook-and-line gear sector would be 7
percent, which would occur during the
first year of implementation. Finally, the
proposed reduction for the hook-andline demersal shelf rockfish (DSR)
fishery in the Southeast Outside district
of the GOA would be 1 mt. The
proposed reductions to the trawl halibut
PSC limits use 1,973 mt as the baseline
for the reductions. That baseline limit
was established with the
implementation of the Central GOA
Rockfish Program (Rockfish Program) in
2011 (76 FR 81248, December 27, 2011).
Amendment 95 would result in a new
trawl sector halibut PSC limit of 1,848
mt in the first year of implementation
(in 2014), 1,759 mt (in 2015), and 1,706
mt (in 2016 and later years). The DSR
fishery halibut PSC limit would be 9 mt.
The hook-and-line sector halibut PSC
limits would vary annually, as these
limits are based on how the Pacific cod
TAC is annually apportioned between
the Central and Western regulatory areas
of the GOA. Based on 2013 Pacific cod
TACs in the Western and Central GOA
the hook-and-line C/P sector would
receive a 115 mt halibut PSC limit. The
hook-and-line CV sector PSC limit
would be 154 mt (in 2014), 146 mt (in
2015), and 141 mt (in 2016 and later
years). These limits are representative of
the proposed halibut PSC reductions,
but not the actual limits that would be
implemented in future years. The
proposed rule associated with
Amendment 95 provides additional
details about these limits (78 FR 57106,
September 17, 2013).
Amendment 97: Chinook Salmon
Prohibited Species Catch Limits in the
Non-Pollock Trawl Groundfish Fisheries
In June 2013, the Council took action
to recommend Amendment 97 to the
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 10, 2013 / Proposed Rules
FMP, as well as accompanying
regulations. If approved by the
Secretary, Amendment 97 would
implement measures to control Chinook
salmon PSC in all non-pollock trawl
groundfish fisheries in the Western and
Central GOA. The directed pollock
fishery is not included in the Council’s
recommended action, as that fishery is
already subject to Chinook PSC limits
(§ 679.21(h)). The Council’s preferred
alternative would set an initial annual
limit of 7,500 Chinook salmon
apportioned among the sectors of
catcher/processors, catcher vessels
active in the Rockfish Program, and
non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels. A
sector would be prohibited from
directed fishing for groundfish if it
caught its apportioned amount of the
total Chinook PSC limit. NMFS
currently is developing a proposed
rulemaking for this Chinook PSC action.
If approved by the Secretary, the earliest
these Chinook salmon PSC limits could
be implemented would be 2015.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Combining Central and Western GOA
Other Rockfish Acceptable Biological
Catches (ABCs) and TACs
At its November 2013 meeting, the
Council’s GOA Groundfish Plan Team
(Plan Team) recommended combining
the Western and Central GOA ‘‘other
rockfish’’ ABCs and TACs. The ‘‘other
rockfish’’ category in those areas
include ‘‘other rockfish’’ (19 species)
and demersal shelf rockfish (7 species).
The Plan Team recommended
combining these ABCs and TACs based
on the challenges associated with
conducting a comprehensive assessment
of all of the species in the ‘‘other
rockfish’’ category in the Western and
Central GOA. The Council and its
Scientific and Statistical Committee
(SSC) will consider this
recommendation at the December 2013
Council meeting, and may recommend
combining these ABCs and TACs as
recommended by the Plan Team. NMFS
does not anticipate any adverse
management or conservation effects if
this were to occur, as directed fishing
for other rockfish would continue to be
prohibited in the Western and Central
GOA.
Changes to GOA State of Alaska (State)
Pacific Cod Guideline Harvest Level
Fisheries
In addition to the Federal Pacific cod
fisheries in the GOA, there are Pacific
cod fisheries managed by the State of
Alaska (State). The State’s guideline
harvest level (GHL) fisheries are
conducted independently of the Federal
groundfish fisheries under direct
regulation of the State. The State derives
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GHLs from the Federal ABC for each
GOA management area, and the TAC for
each area is the amount available after
the Council deducts the annual GHL
percentage from the ABC. Thus, Pacific
cod TACs are affected by the State’s
Pacific cod GHLs. In October 2013, the
Alaska Board of Fisheries, a regulatory
body for the State’s Department of Fish
and Game, adopted a proposal to
increase the GHL in the South Alaska
Peninsula management area to 30
percent from 25 percent of the Western
GOA ABC. Once implemented, this
would decrease the proposed Pacific
cod TAC for the Western GOA. This is
described in further detail in the section
of this preamble that discusses the
‘‘Specification and Apportionment of
TAC Amounts.’’
Proposed Acceptable Biological Catch
(ABC) and TAC Specifications
In October 2013, the Council, its SSC,
and its Advisory Panel (AP) reviewed
the most recent biological and harvest
information about the condition of
groundfish stocks in the GOA. This
information was compiled by the GOA
Groundfish Plan Team and presented in
the final 2012 SAFE report for the GOA
groundfish fisheries, dated November
2012 (see ADDRESSES). The SAFE report
contains a review of the latest scientific
analyses and estimates of each species’
biomass and other biological
parameters, as well as summaries of the
available information on the GOA
ecosystem and the economic condition
of the groundfish fisheries off Alaska.
From these data and analyses, the Plan
Team estimates an OFL and ABC for
each species or species group. The
amounts proposed for the 2014 and
2015 ABCs are based on the 2012 SAFE
report. The AP and Council
recommended that the proposed 2014
and 2015 TACs be set equal to proposed
ABCs for all species and species groups,
with the exception of the species
categories further discussed below. The
proposed ABCs and TACs could be
changed in the final harvest
specifications depending on the most
recent scientific information contained
in the final 2013 SAFE report.
In November 2013, the Plan Team
updated the 2012 SAFE report to
include new information collected
during 2013, such as NMFS stock
surveys, revised stock assessments, and
catch data. The Plan Team compiled
this information and produced the draft
2013 SAFE report for presentation at the
December 2013 Council meeting. At that
meeting, the Council will consider
information in the draft 2013 SAFE
report, recommendations from the
November 2013 Plan Team meeting and
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74081
December 2013 SSC and AP meetings,
public testimony, and relevant written
public comments in making its
recommendations for the final 2014 and
2015 harvest specifications. Pursuant to
section 3.2.3.4.1 of the FMP, the Council
could recommend adjusting the TACs if
‘‘warranted on the basis of bycatch
considerations, management
uncertainty, or socioeconomic
considerations, or if required in order to
cause the sum of the TACs to fall within
the OY range.’’
In previous years, the largest changes
from the proposed to the final harvest
specifications have been for OFLs and
ABCs based on the most recent NMFS
stock surveys, which provide updated
estimates of stock biomass and spatial
distribution, and changes to the models
used for producing stock assessments.
NMFS scientists presented updated and
new survey results, changes to
assessment models, and accompanying
stock estimates at the September 2013
Plan Team meeting, and the SSC
reviewed this information at the October
2013 Council meeting. The species with
possible model changes are pollock,
Pacific cod, flathead sole, dover sole,
rock sole, ‘‘other rockfish,’’ and
demersal shelf rockfish. In November
2013, the Plan Team considered
updated stock assessments for
groundfish, which were included in the
draft 2013 SAFE report.
If the draft 2013 SAFE report
indicates that the stock biomass trend is
increasing for a species, then the final
2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for
that species may reflect an increase from
the proposed harvest specifications. The
draft 2013 SAFE reports indicate that
the biomass trend for pollock, Pacific
cod, deep-water flatfish, Pacific ocean
perch, northern rockfish, shortraker
rockfish, dusky rockfish, thornyhead
rockfish, other rockfish, longnose skates,
other skates, and octopuses may be
increasing. Conversely, if the draft 2013
SAFE report indicates that the stock
biomass trend is decreasing for a
species, then the final 2014 and 2015
harvest specifications may reflect a
decrease from the proposed harvest
specifications. The draft 2013 SAFE
reports indicate that the biomass trend
for sablefish, shallow-water flatfish, rex
sole, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole,
rougheye rockfish, demersal shelf
rockfish, big skate, sculpins, and sharks
may be decreasing. The biomass trends
for Atka mackerel and squid species are
relatively stable.
The proposed OFLs, ABCs, and TACs
are based on the best available
biological and socioeconomic
information, including projected
biomass trends, information on assumed
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emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
distribution of stock biomass, and
revised methods used to calculate stock
biomass. The FMP specifies the
formulas, or tiers, to be used to compute
OFLs and ABCs. The formulas
applicable to a particular stock or stock
complex are determined by the level of
reliable information available to the
fisheries scientists. This information is
categorized into a successive series of
six tiers to define OFL and ABC
amounts, with tier one representing the
highest level of information quality
available and tier six representing the
lowest level of information quality
available. The Plan Team used the FMP
tier structure to calculate OFLs and
ABCs for each groundfish species.
The SSC adopted the proposed 2014
and 2015 OFLs and ABCs recommended
by the Plan Team for all groundfish
species. The Council adopted the SSC’s
OFL and ABC recommendations and the
AP’s TAC recommendations. These
amounts are unchanged from the final
2014 harvest specifications published in
the Federal Register on February 26,
2013 (78 FR 13162), with three
exceptions. The TACs for three species
and area combinations in the final 2014
harvest specifications were misspecified and would be corrected in this
proposed action. These include the
TACs for shallow-water flatfish in the
West Yakutat and Southeast Outside
Districts of the GOA, and the TAC for
rex sole in the West Yakutat District.
The 2013 TACs for these species and
areas were inadvertently carried forward
and published as the 2014 TACs in the
final 2014 harvest specifications. The
2014 TACs for these three species
should have been set equal to the 2014
ABCs for these species. This resulted in
these three TACs being specified as
greater than the available 2014 ABCs.
The proposed 2014 and 2015 TACs for
these species incorporate corrections to
these mis-specifications.
Specification and Apportionment of
TAC Amounts
The Council recommended proposed
2014 and 2015 TACs that are equal to
proposed ABCs for all species and
species groups, with the exceptions of
Atka mackerel, arrowtooth flounder,
flathead sole, and shallow-water flatfish,
‘‘other rockfish,’’ rex sole, Pacific cod,
and pollock. The Atka mackerel TAC is
set to accommodate incidental catch
amounts of this species in other directed
fisheries. The arrowtooth flounder,
flathead sole, and shallow-water flatfish
TACs are set to conserve the halibut
PSC limit for use in other fisheries. The
‘‘other rockfish’’ TAC is set to reduce
the potential amount of discards in the
Southeast Outside (SEO) District. The
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rex sole TAC in the West Yakutat
District was set to accommodate
incidental catch amounts of this species
in other directed fisheries.
The Pacific cod TACs are set to
accommodate the State’s GHL for Pacific
cod so that ABCs are not exceeded. State
GHL fisheries for Pacific cod are
established in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas, as well as in Prince
William Sound (PWS). The Plan Team,
SSC, AP, and Council recommended
that the sum of all State and Federal
water Pacific cod removals from the
GOA not exceed ABC recommendations.
Accordingly, the Council reduced the
proposed 2014 and 2015 Pacific cod
TACs in the Eastern, Central, and
Western Regulatory Areas to account for
State GHLs. Therefore, the proposed
2014 and 2015 Pacific cod TACs are less
than the proposed ABCs by the
following amounts: (1) Eastern GOA,
842 mt; (2) Central GOA, 12,841 mt; and
(3) Western GOA, 7,368 mt. These
amounts reflect the sum of the State’s
2014 and 2015 GHLs in these areas,
which are 25 percent of the Eastern,
Central, and Western GOA proposed
ABCs, respectively. As described above,
the State adopted an increase to the
GHL for the State Pacific cod fishery in
the Western GOA in October 2013. This
increase, to 30 percent from 25 percent,
would decrease the Western GOA
Pacific cod TAC proposed by this action
to 20,629 mt from 22,103 mt. This
change will be incorporated in the final
2014 and 2015 harvest specifications,
following the Council’s review of this
change at its December 2013 meeting.
The final Western GOA Pacific cod TAC
may be either lower or higher than the
above amount (20,629 mt), as the 2014
and 2015 Pacific cod ABCs will
probably differ from those proposed in
this action, based on the updated stock
biomass trends that will be contained in
the draft 2013 SAFE report.
The ABC for the pollock stock in the
combined Western, Central, and West
Yakutat Regulatory Areas (W/C/WYK)
has been adjusted to reflect the GHL
established by the State for the PWS
pollock fishery since its inception in
1995. Genetic studies have led fisheries
scientists to believe that the pollock in
PWS is not a separate stock from the
combined W/C/WYK population. The
Plan Team has had a protocol of
recommending that the GHL amount be
deducted from the Gulf-wide ABC since
1996. Accordingly, the Council
recommended decreasing the W/C/WYK
pollock ABC to account for the State’s
PWS GHL. For 2014 and 2015, the
proposed PWS pollock GHL is 2,583 mt,
as recommended by State fisheries
managers.
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NMFS proposed apportionment for
groundfish species are based on the
distribution of biomass among the
regulatory areas under which NMFS
manages the species. Additional
regulations govern the apportionment of
Pacific cod, pollock, and sablefish.
Additional detail on the apportionment
of Pacific cod and pollock are described
below, and briefly summarized here.
NMFS proposes Pacific cod TACs in
the Western, Central, and Eastern GOA
(see Table 1). NMFS also proposes
seasonal apportionment of the Pacific
cod TACs in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas. Sixty percent of the
annual TAC is apportioned to the A
season for hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear
from January 1 through June 10, and for
trawl gear from January 20 through June
10. Forty percent of the annual TAC is
apportioned to the B season for jig gear
from June 10 through December 31, for
hook-and-line or pot gear from
September 1 through December 31, and
for trawl gear from September 1 through
November 1 (§§ 679.23(d)(3) and
679.20(a)(12)). The Western and Central
GOA Pacific cod gear and sector
apportionments are discussed in detail
below; Table 3 lists these amounts.
NMFS proposes pollock TACs in the
Western, Central, West Yakutat
Regulatory Areas, and the Southeast
Outside District of the GOA (see Table
1). NMFS also proposes seasonal
apportionment of the annual pollock
TAC in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas of the GOA among
Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, and
divided equally among each of the
following four seasons: the A season
(January 20 through March 10), the B
season (March 10 through May 31), the
C season (August 25 through October 1),
and the D season (October 1 through
November 1) (§ 679.23(d)(2)(i) through
(iv), and § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A) and (B)).
Additional detail is provided below;
Table 2 lists these amounts.
The Council’s recommendation for
sablefish area apportionments takes into
account the prohibition on the use of
trawl gear in the SEO District of the
Eastern Regulatory Area and makes
available 5 percent of the combined
Eastern Regulatory Area TACs to trawl
gear for use as incidental catch in other
directed groundfish fisheries in the
WYK District (§ 679.20(a)(4)(i)).
Additional detail is provided below;
Tables 4 and 5 list these amounts.
The sum of the proposed TACs for all
GOA groundfish is 427,068 mt for 2014
and 2015, which is within the OY range
specified by the FMP. The sums of the
proposed 2014 and 2015 TACs are lower
than the final 2013 TACs currently
specified for the GOA groundfish
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fisheries (78 FR 13162, February 26,
2013). The proposed 2014 and 2015
TACs for Pacific cod, flathead sole, and
rougheye rockfish are higher than the
final 2013 TACs for these species. The
proposed 2014 and 2015 TACs for
pollock, sablefish, shallow-water
flatfish, rex sole, Pacific ocean perch,
northern rockfish, and dusky rockfish
are lower than the final 2013 TACs for
these species. The proposed 2014 and
2015 TACs for the remaining species are
equal to the final 2013 TACs.
For 2014 and 2015, the Council
recommends and NMFS proposes the
74083
2012 SAFE report, and adjusted for
other biological and socioeconomic
considerations, including maintaining
the total TAC within the required OY
range. These proposed amounts and
apportionments by area, season, and
sector are subject to change pending
consideration of the draft 2013 SAFE
report and the Council’s
recommendations for the final 2014 and
2015 harvest specifications during its
December 2013 meeting.
OFLs, ABCs, and TACs listed in Table
1. The proposed ABCs reflect harvest
amounts that are less than the specified
overfishing levels. The sum of the
proposed 2014 and 2015 ABCs for all
assessed groundfish is 584,094 mt,
which is lower than the final 2013 ABC
total of 595,920 mt (78 FR 13162,
February 26, 2013).
Table 1 lists the proposed 2014 and
2015 OFLs, ABCs, TACs, and area
apportionments of groundfish in the
GOA. These amounts are consistent
with the biological condition of
groundfish stocks as described in the
TABLE 1—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 ABCS, TACS, AND OFLS OF GROUNDFISH FOR THE WESTERN/CENTRAL/WEST
YAKUTAT (W/C/WYK), WESTERN (W), CENTRAL (C), EASTERN (E) REGULATORY AREAS, AND IN THE WEST YAKUTAT
(WYK), SOUTHEAST OUTSIDE (SEO), AND GULFWIDE (GW) DISTRICTS OF THE GULF OF ALASKA
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area 1
Species
Pollock 2
.................................................
OFL
ABC
TAC
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Arrowtooth flounder ..................................
Flathead sole ............................................
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W ..............................................................
C ...............................................................
E ...............................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
29,470
51,362
3,368
22,103
38,522
2,526
101,100
84,200
63,150
W ..............................................................
C ...............................................................
WYK .........................................................
SEO ..........................................................
E (WYK and SEO) (subtotal) ...................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
1,641
5,195
1,902
2,993
4,895
1,641
5,195
1,902
2,993
4,895
13,871
11,731
11,731
W ..............................................................
C ...............................................................
WYK .........................................................
SEO ..........................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
18,033
18,660
4,299
1,092
13,250
18,000
4,299
1,092
51,580
42,084
36,641
W ..............................................................
C ...............................................................
WYK .........................................................
SEO ..........................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
176
2,308
1,581
1,061
176
2,308
1,581
1,061
6,834
5,126
5,126
W ..............................................................
C ...............................................................
WYK .........................................................
SEO ..........................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
1,287
6,310
823
1,040
1,287
6,310
823
822
12,362
9,460
9,242
W ..............................................................
C ...............................................................
WYK .........................................................
SEO ..........................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
26,970
140,424
20,754
20,663
14,500
75,000
6,900
6,900
Total ..................................................
Rex sole ....................................................
111,530
Total ..................................................
..................................
111,530
Total ..................................................
Deep-water
152,976
Total ..................................................
flatfish 5
25,648
47,004
25,011
3,093
100,756
10,774
Total ..................................................
Shallow-water flatfish 6 ..............................
25,648
47,004
25,011
3,093
100,756
10,774
Total ..................................................
Sablefish 4 .................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
138,610
14,366
Total ..................................................
Pacific cod 3 ..............................................
Shumagin (610) ........................................
Chirikof (620) ............................................
Kodiak (630) .............................................
WYK (640) ................................................
W/C/WYK (subtotal) .................................
SEO (650) ................................................
245,262
208,811
103,300
W ..............................................................
n/a
16,063
8,650
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 10, 2013 / Proposed Rules
TABLE 1—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 ABCS, TACS, AND OFLS OF GROUNDFISH FOR THE WESTERN/CENTRAL/WEST
YAKUTAT (W/C/WYK), WESTERN (W), CENTRAL (C), EASTERN (E) REGULATORY AREAS, AND IN THE WEST YAKUTAT
(WYK), SOUTHEAST OUTSIDE (SEO), AND GULFWIDE (GW) DISTRICTS OF THE GULF OF ALASKA—Continued
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area 1
Species
OFL
ABC
TAC
C ...............................................................
WYK .........................................................
SEO ..........................................................
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Longnose
skates 17
...................................
skates 18
Other
..........................................
Sculpins ....................................................
Sharks .......................................................
Squid .........................................................
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1,775
1,775
18,061
16,133
16,133
W ..............................................................
C ...............................................................
E ...............................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
1,899
2,951
1,899
2,951
5,791
4,850
4,850
W ..............................................................
C ...............................................................
E ...............................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
104
452
525
104
452
525
1,441
1,081
1,081
W ..............................................................
C ...............................................................
WYK .........................................................
SEO ..........................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
354
3,317
465
277
354
3,317
465
277
5,395
4,413
4,413
W ..............................................................
C ...............................................................
E ...............................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
83
871
300
83
871
300
1,508
1,254
1,254
SEO ..........................................................
W ..............................................................
C ...............................................................
E ...............................................................
487
n/a
n/a
n/a
303
150
766
749
303
150
766
749
2,220
1,665
1,665
W ..............................................................
C ...............................................................
WYK .........................................................
SEO ..........................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
44
606
230
3,165
44
606
230
200
5,305
4,045
1,080
GW ...........................................................
W ..............................................................
C ...............................................................
E ...............................................................
6,200
n/a
n/a
n/a
4,700
469
1,793
1,505
2,000
469
1,793
1,505
5,023
3,767
3,767
W ..............................................................
C ...............................................................
E ...............................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
70
1,879
676
70
1,879
676
Total ..................................................
Atka mackerel ...........................................
Big skates 16 ..............................................
2,005
10,740
1,613
Total ..................................................
Other rockfish 14 15 .....................................
2,005
10,740
1,613
Total ..................................................
Demersal shelf rockfish 12 .........................
Thornyhead rockfish 13 ..............................
n/a
n/a
n/a
16,555
2,046
Total ..................................................
Rougheye rockfish 11 ................................
W ..............................................................
C ...............................................................
WYK .........................................................
W/C/WYK .................................................
SEO ..........................................................
Total ..................................................
Dusky rockfish 10 .......................................
30,632
Total ..................................................
Shortraker rockfish 9 ..................................
49,771
Total ..................................................
Northern rockfish 8 ....................................
62,296
Total ..................................................
................................
15,400
4,785
1,797
Total ..................................................
Pacific ocean
27,126
4,785
1,797
Total ..................................................
perch 7
n/a
n/a
n/a
3,500
2,625
2,625
...........................................................
...........................................................
...........................................................
...........................................................
2,706
7,614
8,037
1,530
2,030
5,884
6,028
1,148
2,030
5,884
6,028
1,148
GW
GW
GW
GW
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74085
TABLE 1—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 ABCS, TACS, AND OFLS OF GROUNDFISH FOR THE WESTERN/CENTRAL/WEST
YAKUTAT (W/C/WYK), WESTERN (W), CENTRAL (C), EASTERN (E) REGULATORY AREAS, AND IN THE WEST YAKUTAT
(WYK), SOUTHEAST OUTSIDE (SEO), AND GULFWIDE (GW) DISTRICTS OF THE GULF OF ALASKA—Continued
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Species
Area 1
Octopuses .................................................
GW ...........................................................
1,941
1,455
1,455
Total ...................................................
...................................................................
723,580
584,094
427,068
OFL
ABC
TAC
1 Regulatory areas and districts are defined at § 679.2. (W=Western Gulf of Alaska; C=Central Gulf of Alaska; E=Eastern Gulf of Alaska;
WYK=West Yakutat District; SEO=Southeast Outside District; GW=Gulf-wide).
2 Pollock is apportioned in the Western/Central Regulatory Areas among three statistical areas. Table 2 lists the proposed 2014 and 2015 seasonal apportionments. In the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided into seasonal
allowances.
3 Section 679.20(a)(12)(i) requires the allocation of the Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA among gear
and operational sectors. The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned among various sectors 60 percent to the A season and 40 percent to the B
season in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. In the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA, Pacific cod is allocated 90 percent
for processing by the inshore component and 10 percent for processing by the offshore component. Table 3 lists the proposed 2014 and 2015
Pacific cod seasonal apportionments.
4 Sablefish is allocated to hook-and-line and trawl gear in 2014 and trawl gear in 2015. Tables 4 and 5 list the proposed 2014 and 2015 allocations of sablefish TACs.
5 ‘‘Deep-water flatfish’’ means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deep-sea sole.
6 ‘‘Shallow-water flatfish’’ means flatfish not including ‘‘deep-water flatfish,’’ flathead sole, rex sole, or arrowtooth flounder.
7 ‘‘Pacific ocean perch’’ means Sebastes alutus.
8 ‘‘Northern rockfish’’ means Sebastes polyspinous. For management purposes the 3 mt apportionment of ABC to the WYK District of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska has been included in the slope rockfish species group.
9 ‘‘Shortraker rockfish’’ means Sebastes borealis.
10 ‘‘Dusky rockfish’’ means Sebastes variabilis.
11 ‘‘Rougheye rockfish’’ means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
12 ‘‘Demersal shelf rockfish’’ means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper), S. maliger (quillback), S.
helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
13 ‘‘Thornyhead rockfish’’ means ‘‘Sebastes species’’
14 ‘‘Other rockfish (slope rockfish)’’ means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio), S. goodei
(chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S. wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S.
proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergray), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S.
miniatus (vermilion), S. reedi (yellowmouth), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA only, other rockfish also includes northern rockfish, S. polyspinous.
15 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means other rockfish and demersal shelf
rockfish.
16 ‘‘Big skate’’ means Raja binoculata.
17 ‘‘Longnose skate’’ means Raja rhina.
18 ‘‘Other skates’’ means Bathyraja spp.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Proposed Apportionment of Reserves
Section 679.20(b)(2) requires NMFS to
set aside 20 percent of each TAC for
pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, skates,
sharks, squids, sculpins, and octopuses
in reserves for possible apportionment
at a later date during the fishing year. In
2013, NMFS apportioned all of the
reserves in the final harvest
specifications. For 2014 and 2015,
NMFS proposes reapportionment of all
the reserves for pollock, Pacific cod,
flatfish, skates, sharks, squids, sculpins,
and octopuses in anticipation of the
projected annual catch of these species.
The TACs in Table 1 reflect the
apportionment of reserve amounts for
these species and species groups. Each
proposed TAC for the above mentioned
species categories contains the full TAC
recommended by the Council, since
none of the relevant species and species
groups’ TACs contributed to a reserve
that could be used for future
reapportionments.
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Proposed Apportionments of Pollock
TAC Among Seasons and Regulatory
Areas, and Allocations for Processing
by Inshore and Offshore Components
As noted earlier, pollock is
apportioned by season and area, and is
further allocated for processing by
inshore and offshore components.
Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the
annual pollock TAC specified for the
Western and Central Regulatory Areas of
the GOA is apportioned into four equal
seasonal allowances of 25 percent. As
established by § 679.23(d)(2)(i) through
(iv), the A, B, C, and D season
allowances are available from January
20 through March 10, March 10 through
May 31, August 25 through October 1,
and October 1 through November 1,
respectively.
Pollock TACs in the Western and
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA are
apportioned among Statistical Areas
610, 620, and 630, pursuant to
§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A). In the A and B
seasons, the apportionments have
historically been based on the
proportional distribution of pollock
biomass based on the four most recent
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NMFS winter surveys. In the C and D
seasons, the apportionments are in
proportion to the distribution of pollock
biomass based on the four most recent
NMFS summer surveys. However, for
2014 and 2015, the Council
recommends, and NMFS proposes,
averaging the winter and summer
distribution of pollock in the Central
Regulatory Area for the A season instead
of using the distribution based on only
the winter surveys. This combination of
summer and winter distribution has
been used since 2002. The average is
intended to reflect the best available
information about migration patterns,
distribution of pollock, and the
performance of the fishery in the area
during the A season. During the A
season, the apportionment is based on
the proposed adjusted estimate of the
relative distribution of pollock biomass
of approximately 16 percent, 62 percent,
and 22 percent in Statistical Areas 610,
620, and 630, respectively. During the B
season, the apportionment is based on
the relative distribution of pollock
biomass of approximately 16 percent, 74
percent, and 10 percent in Statistical
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Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively.
During the C and D seasons, the
apportionment is based on the relative
distribution of pollock biomass of
approximately 36 percent, 28 percent,
and 35 percent in Statistical Areas 610,
620, and 630, respectively.
Within any fishing year, the amount
by which a seasonal allowance is
underharvested or overharvested may be
added to, or subtracted from,
subsequent seasonal allowances in a
manner to be determined by the
Regional Administrator
(§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The rollover
amount is limited to 20 percent of the
unharvested seasonal apportionment for
the statistical area. Any unharvested
pollock above the 20-percent limit could
be further distributed to the other
statistical areas, in proportion to the
estimated biomass in the subsequent
season in those statistical areas
(§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The proposed
2014 and 2015 pollock TACs in the
WYK District of 3,093 mt and SEO
District of 10,774 mt are not allocated by
season.
Section 679.20(a)(6)(i) requires the
allocation of 100 percent of the pollock
TAC in all regulatory areas and all
seasonal allowances to vessels catching
pollock for processing by the inshore
component after subtraction of pollock
amounts projected by the Regional
Administrator to be caught by, or
delivered to, the offshore component
incidental to directed fishing for other
groundfish species. Thus, the amount of
pollock available for harvest by vessels
harvesting pollock for processing by the
offshore component is that amount that
will be taken as incidental catch during
directed fishing for groundfish species
other than pollock, up to the maximum
retainable amounts allowed under
§ 679.20(e) and (f). At this time, these
incidental catch amounts of pollock are
unknown and will be determined as
fishing activity occurs during the fishing
year by the offshore component.
Table 2 lists the proposed 2014 and
2015 seasonal biomass distribution of
pollock in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas, area apportionments,
and seasonal allowances. The amounts
of pollock for processing by the inshore
and offshore components are not shown.
TABLE 2—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 DISTRIBUTION OF POLLOCK IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN REGULATORY AREAS
OF THE GULF OF ALASKA; SEASONAL BIOMASS DISTRIBUTION, AREA APPORTIONMENTS, AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES
OF ANNUAL TAC 1
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Season 2
Shumagin (Area 610)
Chirikof (Area 620)
Kodiak (Area 630)
Total
A (Jan 20–Mar 10) ...................................
B (Mar 10–May 31) ..................................
C (Aug 25–Oct 1) .....................................
D (Oct 1–Nov 1) .......................................
3,921
3,921
8,903
8,903
(16.06%)
(16.06%)
(36.47%)
(36.47%)
15,015
18,102
6,944
6,944
(61.50%)
(67.25%)
(28.44%)
(28.44%)
5,481
2,393
8,568
8,568
(22.45%)
(9.80%)
(32.10%)
(32.10%)
24,416
24,416
24,416
24,415
Annual Total 3 ...................................
25,648
....................
47,004
....................
25,011
....................
97,663
1 Area
apportionments and seasonal allowances may not total precisely due to rounding.
2 As established by § 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season allowances are available from January 20 to March 10, March 10
to May 31, August 25 to October 1, and October 1 to November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown in this table.
3 The WYK and SEO District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not included in the total pollock TACs shown in this table.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Proposed Annual and Seasonal
Apportionments of Pacific Cod
Section 679.20(a)(6)(ii) requires the
allocation of the Pacific cod TAC
between the inshore and offshore
components in the Eastern Regulatory
Area of the GOA. Additional
apportionment by gear, operational
sectors, and season are not required in
the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA.
Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(12)(i), NMFS
proposes allocations for the 2014 and
2015 Pacific cod TACs in the Western
and Central Regulatory Areas of the
GOA. Section 679.20(a)(12)(i) requires
allocation of the Pacific cod TAC among
gear and operational sectors in each
area. In the Central GOA, the Pacific cod
TAC is apportioned seasonally among
vessels using jig gear, CVs less than 50
feet in length overall using hook-andline gear, CVs equal to or greater than
50 feet in length overall using hook-andline gear, C/Ps using hook-and-line gear,
CVs using trawl gear, C/Ps using trawl
gear, and vessels using pot gear. In the
Western GOA, the Pacific cod TAC is
apportioned seasonally among vessels
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using jig gear, CVs using hook-and-line
gear, C/Ps using hook-and-line gear, CVs
using trawl gear, and vessels using pot
gear. The overall seasonal
apportionments in the Western and
Central GOA are 60 percent of the
annual TAC to the A season and 40
percent of the annual TAC to the B
season.
In accordance with the FMP, the
annual jig sector allocations may
increase up to 6 percent of the annual
Western and Central GOA Pacific cod
TACs depending on the annual
performance of the jig sector (See Table
1 of Amendment 83 to the FMP for a
detailed discussion of the jig sector
allocation process (76 FR 74670,
December 1, 2011)). NMFS proposes
that the jig sector receive 2.5 percent of
the annual Pacific cod TAC in the
Western GOA. This includes a base
allocation of 1.5 percent and an
additional 1.0 percent because this
sector harvested greater than 90 percent
of its initial 2012 allocation in the
Western GOA. NMFS also proposes that
the jig sector would receive 2.0 percent
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of the annual Pacific cod TAC in the
Central GOA. This includes a base
allocation of 1.0 percent and an
additional 1.0 percent because this
sector harvested greater than 90 percent
of its initial 2012 allocation in the
Central GOA. In 2013, neither the
Western nor Central GOA jig sectors
harvested 90 percent of their respective
2013 Pacific cod allocations. However,
jig sector allocation increases are
established for a minimum of 2 years. In
2014, NMFS will re-evaluate the annual
2013 and 2014 harvest performance of
each jig sector and determine whether to
maintain or decrease the jig sector
allocations proposed by this action in
conjunction with the 2015 and 2016
proposed harvest specifications. The jig
sector allocations are further
apportioned between the A (60 percent)
and B (40 percent) season.
After allocation to the jig sector, the
non-jig sector allocations based on gear
type, operation type, and vessel length
overall are allocated the remainder of
the annual Pacific cod TAC in the
Western and Central GOA. Table 3 lists
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the seasonal apportionments and
allocations of the proposed 2014 and
2015 Pacific cod TACs.
Under § 679.20(a)(12)(ii), any overage
or underage of the Pacific cod allowance
from the A season will be subtracted
from, or added to, the subsequent B
season allowance. In addition, any
portion of the hook-and-line, trawl, pot,
or jig sector allocations that is
determined by NMFS as likely to go
unharvested by a sector may be
reapportioned to other sectors for
harvest during the remainder of the
fishery year.
TABLE 3—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 SEASONAL APPORTIONMENTS AND ALLOCATIONS OF PACIFIC COD TAC AMOUNTS
TO GEAR TYPES, OPERATIONAL TYPES, AND VESSEL LENGTH OVERALL IN THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL GULF OF
ALASKA AND ALLOCATIONS FOR PROCESSING BY THE INSHORE AND OFFSHORE COMPONENTS IN THE EASTERN GULF
OF ALASKA
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
A season
B season
Annual allocation (mt)
Sector % of
annual non-jig
TAC
Western GOA
Jig (2.5% of TAC) .........................................................
Hook-and-line CV .........................................................
Hook-and-line C/P ........................................................
Trawl CV .......................................................................
Trawl C/P ......................................................................
Pot CV and Pot C/P .....................................................
Total .......................................................................
553
302
4,267
8,275
517
8,189
22,103
N/A
0.70
10.90
27.70
0.90
19.80
60.00
332
151
2,349
5,969
194
4,267
13,262
N/A
0.70
8.90
10.70
1.50
18.20
40.00
221
151
1,918
2,306
323
3,922
8,841
Central GOA
Jig (2.0% of TAC) .........................................................
Hook-and-line < 50 CV .................................................
Hook-and-line ≥ 50 CV .................................................
Hook-and-line C/P ........................................................
Trawl CV .......................................................................
Trawl C/P ......................................................................
Pot CV and Pot C/P .....................................................
770
5,513
2,532
1,927
15,698
1,585
10,497
N/A
9.32
5.61
4.11
21.13
2.00
17.83
462
3,517
2,118
1,550
7,979
756
6,731
N/A
5.29
1.10
1.00
20.45
2.19
9.97
308
1,996
414
377
7,720
828
3,766
Total .......................................................................
38,522
60.00
23,113
40.00
15,409
Regulatory area and sector
Eastern GOA ........................................................................
2,526
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Proposed Allocations of the Sablefish
TAC Amounts to Vessels Using Hookand-Line and Trawl Gear
Section 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii) require
allocations of sablefish TACs for each of
the regulatory areas and districts to
hook-and-line and trawl gear. In the
Western and Central Regulatory Areas,
80 percent of each TAC is allocated to
hook-and-line gear, and 20 percent of
each TAC is allocated to trawl gear. In
the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95 percent
of the TAC is allocated to hook-and-line
gear and 5 percent is allocated to trawl
gear. The trawl gear allocation in the
Eastern GOA may only be used to
support incidental catch of sablefish in
directed fisheries for other target species
(§ 679.20(a)(4)(i)).
In recognition of the prohibition
against trawl gear in the SEO District of
the Eastern Regulatory Area, the Council
recommended and NMFS proposes the
allocation of 5 percent of the combined
Eastern Regulatory Area sablefish TAC
to trawl gear in the WYK District,
making the remainder of the WYK
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Inshore (90% of Annual TAC)
2,273
sablefish TAC available to vessels using
hook-and-line gear. As a result, NMFS
proposes to allocate 100 percent of the
sablefish TAC in the SEO District to
vessels using hook-and-line gear. This
recommendation results in a proposed
2014 allocation of 245 mt to trawl gear
and 1,657 mt to hook-and-line gear in
the WYK District, and 2,993 mt to hookand-line gear in the SEO District. Table
4 lists the allocations of the proposed
2014 sablefish TACs to hook-and-line
and trawl gear. Table 5 lists the
allocations of the proposed 2015
sablefish TACs to trawl gear.
The Council recommended that the
hook-and-line sablefish TAC be
established annually to ensure that the
Individual Fishery Quota (IFQ) fishery
is conducted concurrent with the
halibut IFQ fishery and is based on
recent survey information. The Council
also recommended that only the trawl
sablefish TAC be established for 2 years
so that retention of incidental catch of
sablefish by trawl gear could commence
in January in the second year of the
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Seasonal allowances
(mt)
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Sector % of
annual non-jig
TAC
Seasonal
allowances
(mt)
Offshore (10% of Annual TAC)
253
groundfish harvest specifications. Since
there is an annual assessment for
sablefish and the final harvest
specifications are expected to be
published before the IFQ season begins
(typically, in early March), the Council
recommended that the sablefish TAC be
set on an annual basis, rather than for
2 years, so that the best available
scientific information could be
considered in establishing the ABCs and
TACs. With the exception of the trawl
allocations that are provided to the
Rockfish Program cooperatives (see
Table 28c to part 679), directed fishing
for sablefish with trawl gear is closed
during the fishing year. Also, fishing for
groundfish with trawl gear is prohibited
prior to January 20. Therefore, it is not
likely that the sablefish allocation to
trawl gear would be reached before the
effective date of the final 2014 and 2015
harvest specifications.
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TABLE 4—PROPOSED 2014 SABLEFISH TAC AMOUNTS IN THE GULF OF ALASKA AND ALLOCATIONS TO HOOK-AND-LINE
AND TRAWL GEAR
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area/district
TAC
Hook-and-line allocation
Trawl allocation
Western ........................................................................................
Central .........................................................................................
West Yakutat 1 .............................................................................
Southeast Outside .......................................................................
1,641
5,195
1,902
2,993
1,313
4,156
1,657
2,993
328
1,039
245
0
Total ......................................................................................
11,731
10,119
1,612
1 The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat and Southeast Outside districts combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat district.
TABLE 5—PROPOSED 2015 SABLEFISH TAC AMOUNTS IN THE GULF OF ALASKA AND ALLOCATION TO TRAWL GEAR 1
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area/District
TAC
Hook-and-line allocation
Trawl allocation
Western ........................................................................................
Central .........................................................................................
West Yakutat2 ..............................................................................
Southeast Outside .......................................................................
1,641
5,195
1,902
2,993
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
328
1,039
245
0
Total ......................................................................................
11,731
n/a
1,612
1 The
Council recommended that harvest specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish Individual Fishing Quota fisheries be limited to 1
year.
2 The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat and Southeast Outside districts combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat district.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Proposed Apportionments to the
Rockfish Program
These proposed 2014 and 2015
harvest specifications for the GOA
include the various fishery cooperative
allocations and sideboard limitations
established by the Rockfish Program.
Program participants are primarily trawl
catcher vessels and trawl catcher/
processors, with limited participation
by vessels using longline gear. The
Rockfish Program assigns quota share
and cooperative quota to participants for
primary and secondary species, allows a
participant holding a license limitation
program (LLP) license with rockfish
quota share to form a rockfish
cooperative with other persons, and
allows holders of C/P LLP licenses to
opt-out of the fishery. The Rockfish
Program also has an entry level fishery
for rockfish primary species for vessels
using longline gear.
Under the Rockfish Program, rockfish
primary species (Pacific ocean perch,
northern rockfish, and dusky rockfish)
in the Central GOA are allocated to
participants after deducting for
incidental catch needs in other directed
groundfish fisheries. Participants in the
Rockfish Program also receive a portion
of the Central GOA TAC of specific
secondary species (Pacific cod,
rougheye rockfish, sablefish, shortraker
rockfish, and thornyhead rockfish).
Additionally, the Rockfish Program
establishes sideboard limits to restrict
the ability of harvesters operating under
the Rockfish Program to increase their
participation in other, non-Rockfish
Program fisheries. Besides groundfish
species, the Rockfish Program allocates
a portion of the halibut PSC limit from
the third season deep-water species
fishery allowance for the GOA trawl
fisheries to Rockfish Program
participants. (Rockfish Program
sideboards and halibut PSC limits are
discussed below.)
Section 679.81(a)(2)(ii) requires
allocations of 5 mt of Pacific ocean
perch, 5 mt of northern rockfish, and 30
mt of dusky rockfish to the entry level
longline fishery in 2014 and 2015. The
allocation for the entry level longline
fishery would increase incrementally
each year if the catch exceeds 90
percent of the allocation of a species.
The incremental increase in the
allocation would continue each year
until it is the maximum percent of the
TAC for that species. In 2013, the catch
did not exceed 90 percent of any
allocated rockfish species. Therefore,
NMFS is not proposing an increase to
the entry level longline fishery 2014 and
2015 allocations in the Central GOA.
The remainder of the TACs for the
rockfish primary species would be
allocated to the CV and C/P
cooperatives. Table 6 lists the
allocations of the proposed 2014 and
2015 TACs for each rockfish primary
species to the entry level longline
fishery, the incremental increase for
future years, and the maximum percent
of the TAC for the entry level longline
fishery.
TABLE 6—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 ALLOCATIONS OF ROCKFISH PRIMARY SPECIES TO THE ENTRY LEVEL LONGLINE
FISHERY IN THE CENTRAL GULF OF ALASKA.
Rockfish primary species
Allocations of the proposed 2014 and 2015 TAC
Pacific ocean perch .....................................................
Northern rockfish ..........................................................
Incremental
increase per year
if catch exceeds
90 percent of the
allocation of:
5 metric tons ...............................................................
5 metric tons ...............................................................
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5 metric tons
5 metric tons
Up to
maximum
percent of
each TAC
of:
(%)
1
2
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 10, 2013 / Proposed Rules
74089
TABLE 6—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 ALLOCATIONS OF ROCKFISH PRIMARY SPECIES TO THE ENTRY LEVEL LONGLINE
FISHERY IN THE CENTRAL GULF OF ALASKA.—Continued
Rockfish primary species
Allocations of the proposed 2014 and 2015 TAC
Dusky rockfish ..............................................................
Incremental
increase per year
if catch exceeds
90 percent of the
allocation of:
30 metric tons .............................................................
Section 679.81(a)(2)(iii) requires
allocations of rockfish primary species
among various components of the
Rockfish Program. Table 7 lists the
proposed 2014 and 2015 allocations of
rockfish in the Central GOA to the entry
level longline fishery and other
participants in the Rockfish Program,
which include CV and C/P cooperatives.
NMFS also proposes setting aside
incidental catch amounts (ICAs) for
other directed fisheries in the Central
GOA of 1,200 mt of Pacific ocean perch,
200 mt of northern rockfish, and 200 mt
of dusky rockfish. These amounts are
based on recent average incidental
catches in the Central GOA by other
groundfish fisheries.
Allocations among vessels belonging
to CV or C/P cooperatives are not
included in these proposed harvest
specifications. Rockfish Program
applications for CV cooperatives and
C/P cooperatives are not due to NMFS
Up to
maximum
percent of
each TAC
of:
(%)
20 metric tons
5
until March 1 of each calendar year;
therefore, NMFS cannot calculate 2014
and 2015 allocations in conjunction
with these proposed harvest
specifications. NMFS will post these
allocations on the Alaska Region Web
site at (http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/
sustainablefisheries/goarat/default.htm)
when they become available after March
1.
TABLE 7—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 ALLOCATIONS OF ROCKFISH PRIMARY SPECIES IN THE CENTRAL GULF OF ALASKA
TO THE ENTRY LEVEL LONGLINE FISHERY AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS IN THE ROCKFISH PROGRAM
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Rockfish primary species
Incidental
catch
allowance
TAC
TAC minus
ICA
Allocation
to the
entry
level longline 1
fishery
Allocation
to other
participants
in rockfish
program 2
Pacific ocean perch .............................................................
Northern rockfish ..................................................................
Dusky rockfish ......................................................................
10,740
2,951
3,317
1,200
200
200
9,540
2,751
3,117
5
5
30
9,535
2,746
3,087
Total ..............................................................................
17,008
1,600
15,408
40
15,368
1 Longline
2 Other
gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline gear.
participants in the Rockfish Program include vessels in CV and C/P cooperatives.
Section 679.81(c) requires allocations
of rockfish secondary species to CV and
C/P cooperatives in the GOA. CV
cooperatives receive allocations of
Pacific cod, sablefish from the trawl gear
allocation, and thornyhead rockfish. C/
P cooperatives receive allocations of
sablefish from the trawl allocation,
rougheye rockfish, shortraker rockfish,
and thornyhead rockfish. Table 8 lists
the apportionments of the proposed
2014 and 2015 TACs of rockfish
secondary species in the Central GOA to
CV and C/P cooperatives.
TABLE 8—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 APPORTIONMENTS OF ROCKFISH SECONDARY SPECIES IN THE CENTRAL GOA TO
CATCHER VESSEL (CV) AND CATCHER PROCESSOR (C/P) COOPERATIVES
[Values are in metric tons]
CV cooperatives
Central GOA
annual TAC
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Rockfish secondary species
Pacific cod ............................................................................
Sablefish ..............................................................................
Shortraker rockfish ...............................................................
Rougheye rockfish ...............................................................
Thornyhead rockfish ............................................................
Proposed Halibut PSC Limits
As discussed above, NMFS published
a proposed rule to implement
Amendment 95 to the GOA FMP (78 FR
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Percentage of
TAC
Apportionment
(mt)
Percentage of
TAC
Apportionment
(mt)
3.81
6.78
N/A
N/A
7.84
1,468
352
N/A
N/A
60
N/A
3.51
40.00
58.87
26.50
N/A
182
181
513
203
38,522
5,195
452
871
766
57106, September 17, 2013).
Amendment 95 would include GOA
halibut PSC limits in Federal
regulations and reduce halibut PSC
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C/P cooperatives
Sfmt 4702
limits in the GOA trawl and hook-andline groundfish fisheries. For most gear
and operational types, the proposed
reductions would be phased-in over 3
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years. This 3-year period could begin as
early as 2014, if a final rule
implementing Amendment 95 is
approved. Implementation of the
Amendment 95 final rule would require
reductions to the 2014 halibut PSC
limits in these proposed harvest
specifications.
Section 679.21(d) establishes annual
halibut PSC limit apportionments to
trawl and hook-and-line gear, and
authorizes the establishment of
apportionments for pot gear. In October
2013, the Council recommended
proposed halibut PSC limits of 1,973 mt
for trawl gear and 300 mt for hook-andline gear for the 2014 and 2015
groundfish fisheries.
With respect to this proposed action,
10 mt of the 300 mt hook-and-line
halibut PSC limit is further allocated to
the DSR fishery in the SEO District. The
DSR fishery is defined at
§ 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(A). This fishery has
been apportioned 10 mt of the halibut
PSC limit in recognition of its smallscale harvests of groundfish.
Most vessels in the DSR fishery are
less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall
and until 2013, have been exempt from
observer coverage. Therefore, observer
data were not available to verify actual
halibut bycatch amounts. In 2013,
NMFS implemented a restructured
observer program in the GOA
groundfish fisheries. Observers were
placed on vessels between 40 and 60
feet length overall, which has provided
additional data about groundfish and
halibut PSC. NMFS does not yet have
complete data from 2013 to evaluate
halibut PSC use in the DSR fishery.
NMFS estimates low halibut bycatch in
the DSR fishery because (1) the duration
of the DSR fisheries and the gear soak
times are short, (2) the DSR fishery
occurs in the winter when less overlap
occurs in the distribution of DSR and
halibut, and (3) the directed commercial
DSR fishery has a low DSR TAC. The
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
sets the GHL for the DSR fishery after
estimates of DSR incidental catch in all
fisheries (including halibut and
subsistence) and allocation to the DSR
sport fish fishery have been deducted.
Of the 303 mt TAC for DSR in 2013, 249
mt were available for the DSR
commercial directed fishery, of which
212 mt were harvested.
The FMP authorizes the Council to
exempt specific gear from the halibut
PSC limits. NMFS, after consultation
with the Council, proposes to exempt
pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ
hook-and-line gear fishery categories
from the non-trawl halibut PSC limit for
2014 and 2015. The Council
recommended, and NMFS is proposing,
these exemptions because (1) pot gear
fisheries have low annual halibut
bycatch mortality, (2) IFQ program
regulations prohibit discard of halibut if
any halibut IFQ permit holder on board
a CV holds unused halibut IFQ
(§ 679.7(f)(11)), (3) sablefish IFQ
fishermen typically hold halibut IFQ
permits and are therefore required to
retain the halibut they catch while
fishing sablefish IFQ, and (4) NMFS
estimates negligible halibut mortality for
the jig gear fisheries. NMFS estimates
halibut mortality is negligible in the jig
gear fisheries given the small amount of
groundfish harvested by jig gear, the
selective nature of jig gear, and the high
survival rates of halibut caught and
released with jig gear.
NMFS implemented a restructured
observer program in 2013 (77 FR 70062,
November 21, 2012). The restructured
observer program provides data on
fisheries that have previously been
unobserved or were subject to very
limited observer coverage. Specifically,
the restructured observer program will
improve biological and fisheries data,
including halibut PSC, for pot and
sablefish IFQ fisheries. NMFS will
continue to review halibut PSC data
collected in pot and sablefish IFQ
fisheries in 2013, and provide input to
the GOA Plan Team and Council. These
data could be considered in future years
when deciding whether to exempt
specific gear from halibut PSC limits.
Section 679.21(d)(5) authorizes NMFS
to seasonally apportion the halibut PSC
limits after consultation with the
Council. The FMP and regulations
require that the Council and NMFS
consider the following information in
seasonally apportioning halibut PSC
limits: (1) Seasonal distribution of
halibut, (2) seasonal distribution of
target groundfish species relative to
halibut distribution, (3) expected
halibut bycatch needs on a seasonal
basis relative to changes in halibut
biomass and expected catch of target
groundfish species, (4) expected bycatch
rates on a seasonal basis, (5) expected
changes in directed groundfish fishing
seasons, (6) expected actual start of
fishing effort, and (7) economic effects
of establishing seasonal halibut
allocations on segments of the target
groundfish industry.
The final 2013 and 2014 harvest
specifications (78 FR 13162, February
26, 2013) summarized the Council’s and
NMFS’ findings with respect to halibut
PSC for each of these FMP
considerations. The Council’s and
NMFS’ findings for 2014 and 2015 are
unchanged from 2013. Table 9 lists the
proposed 2014 and 2015 Pacific halibut
PSC limits, allowances, and
apportionments. Section
679.21(d)(5)(iii) and (iv) specify that any
underages or overages of a seasonal
apportionment of a PSC limit will be
deducted from or added to the next
respective seasonal apportionment
within the fishing year.
TABLE 9—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 PACIFIC HALIBUT PSC LIMITS, ALLOWANCES, AND APPORTIONMENTS
[Values are in metric tons]
Hook-and-line gear 1
Trawl gear
Other than DSR
Season
Percent
Season
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
DSR
Amount
January 20–April 1 ...........
April 1–July 1 ...................
July 1–September 1 .........
27.5
20
30
543
395
592
September 1–October 1 ..
October 1–December 31
7.5
15
148
296
Total ..........................
................
1,973
Percent
January 1–June 10 ..........
June 10–September 1 .....
September 1–December
31.
..........................................
..........................................
Amount
Season
January 1–December 31
Amount
86
2
12
250
5
35
................
................
................
................
..........................................
................
................
................
290
..........................................
10
1 The
10
Pacific halibut PSC limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery and fisheries other than DSR.
The hook-and-line IFQ sablefish fishery is exempt from halibut PSC limits, as are pot and jig gear for all groundfish fisheries.
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Section 679.21(d)(3)(ii) authorizes
further apportionment of the trawl
halibut PSC limit as bycatch allowances
to trawl fishery categories. The annual
apportionments are based on each
category’s proportional share of the
anticipated halibut bycatch mortality
during a fishing year and optimization
of the total amount of groundfish
harvest under the halibut PSC limit. The
fishery categories for the trawl halibut
PSC limits are (1) a deep-water species
fishery, composed of sablefish, rockfish,
deep-water flatfish, rex sole, and
arrowtooth flounder; and (2) a shallowwater species fishery, composed of
pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water
flatfish, flathead sole, Atka mackerel,
and ‘‘other species’’ (skates, sharks,
squids, sculpins, and octopuses)
(§ 679.21(d)(3)(iii)). Table 10 lists the
proposed 2014 and 2015 seasonal
apportionments of trawl halibut PSC
limits between the trawl gear deepwater and the shallow-water species
fisheries. Based on public comment and
the information presented in the final
2013 SAFE report, the Council may
recommend or NMFS may make
changes to the seasonal, gear-type, or
fishery category apportionments of
halibut PSC limits for the final 2014 and
2015 harvest specifications.
TABLE 10—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 SEASONAL APPORTIONMENTS OF THE PACIFIC HALIBUT PSC LIMIT APPORTIONED
BETWEEN THE TRAWL GEAR SHALLOW-WATER AND DEEP-WATER SPECIES FISHERIES
(Values are in metric tons)
Season
Shallow-water
Deep-water 1
Total
January 20–April 1 ........................................................................................................
April 1–July 1 ................................................................................................................
July 1–September 1 ......................................................................................................
September 1–October 1 ...............................................................................................
444
99
197
148
99 .....................
296 ...................
395 ...................
Any remainder ..
543
395
592
148
Subtotal, January 20–October 1 ...........................................................................
October 1–December 31 2 ............................................................................................
888
..............................
789 ...................
...........................
1,677
296
Total ................................................................................................................
..............................
...........................
1,973
1 Vessels
participating in cooperatives in the Rockfish Program will receive 191 mt of the third season (July 1 through September 1) deepwater species fishery halibut PSC apportionment.
2 There is no apportionment between trawl shallow-water and deep-water species fisheries during the fifth season (October 1 through December 31).
Section 679.21(d)(4) requires that the
‘‘other than DSR’’ halibut PSC
apportionment to vessels using hookand-line gear must be divided between
CVs and C/Ps. NMFS must calculate the
halibut PSC limit apportionments for
the entire GOA to hook-and-line CVs
and C/Ps in accordance with
§ 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(B)(1) and (2) in
conjunction with these harvest
specifications. A comprehensive
description and example of the
calculations necessary to apportion the
‘‘other than DSR’’ hook-and-line halibut
PSC limit between the hook-and-line CV
and C/P sectors were included in the
proposed rule to implement
Amendment 83 (76 FR 44700, July 26,
2011) and is not repeated here.
For 2014 and 2015, NMFS proposes
annual halibut PSC limit allocations of
166 mt to hook-and-line CVs and 124 mt
to hook-and-line C/P sectors. In
addition, these annual halibut PSC
limits are divided into three seasonal
apportionments, using seasonal
percentages of 86 percent, 2 percent,
and 12 percent. Table 11 lists the
proposed 2014 and 2015 annual halibut
PSC limits and seasonal apportionments
between the hook-and-line sectors in the
GOA.
No later than November 1 of each
year, NMFS calculates the projected
unused amount of halibut PSC limit by
either of the hook-and-line sectors for
the remainder of the year. The projected
unused amount of halibut PSC limit is
made available to the other hook-andline sector for the remainder of that
fishing year if NMFS determines that an
additional amount of halibut PSC limit
is necessary for that sector to continue
its directed fishing operations
(§ 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(B)(3)).
TABLE 11—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 APPORTIONMENTS OF THE ‘‘OTHER HOOK-AND-LINE FISHERIES’’ HALIBUT PSC
ALLOWANCE BETWEEN THE HOOK-AND-LINE GEAR CATCHER VESSEL AND CATCHER/PROCESSOR SECTORS
[Values are in metric tons]
Percent of
annual
allowance
Sector
annual
amount
Hook-andline sector
290 ..........................
Catcher Vessel ......
57.3
166
Catcher/Processor
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
‘‘Other than DSR’’
allowance
42.7
124
Estimated Halibut Bycatch in Prior
Years
The best available information on
estimated halibut bycatch consists of
data collected by fisheries observers
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:46 Dec 09, 2013
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January 1–June 10 ................................
June 10–September 1 ...........................
September 1–December 31 ...................
January 1–June 10 ................................
June 10–September 1 ...........................
September 1–December 31 ...................
during 2013. The calculated halibut
bycatch mortality through November 2,
2013, is 1,076 mt for trawl gear, 145 mt
for hook-and-line gear, and 13 mt for pot
gear for a total halibut mortality of 1,234
PO 00000
Frm 00051
Fmt 4702
Seasonal
percentage
Season
Sfmt 4702
86
2
12
86
2
12
Sector
seasonal
amount
143
3
20
106
2
15
mt. This halibut mortality was
calculated using groundfish and halibut
catch data from the NMFS Alaska
Region’s catch accounting system. This
system contains historical and recent
E:\FR\FM\10DEP1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 10, 2013 / Proposed Rules
catch information compiled from each
Alaska groundfish fishery.
Halibut bycatch restrictions
seasonally constrained trawl gear
fisheries during the 2013 fishing year.
Table 12 lists the closure dates for
fisheries that resulted from the
attainment of seasonal or annual halibut
PSC limits.
TABLE 12—2013 FISHERY CLOSURES DUE TO ATTAINMENT OF PACIFIC HALIBUT PSC LIMITS
Fishery category
Opening date
Closure date
Federal Register citation
Trawl Deep-water,1 season 2 .......................................
Hook-and-line gear, all sectors and targets 2 ...............
April 1, 2013 .....................
January 1, 2013 ...............
May 18, 2013 ...................
Remains open
78 FR 12195, May 22, 2013.
1 With
2 With
the exception of vessels participating in the Rockfish Program and vessels fishing for pollock using pelagic trawl gear.
the exception of the IFQ sablefish fishery, which is open March 23, 2013, through November 7, 2013.
Halibut Discard Mortality Rates
To monitor halibut bycatch mortality
allowances and apportionments, the
Regional Administrator uses observed
halibut incidental catch rates, discard
mortality rates (DMRs), and estimates of
groundfish catch to project when a
fishery’s halibut bycatch mortality
allowance or seasonal apportionment is
reached. The DMRs are based on the
best information available, including
information contained in the annual
SAFE report.
NMFS proposes the Council’s
recommendation that the halibut DMRs
developed and recommended by the
International Pacific Halibut
Commission (IPHC) for the 2013
through 2015 GOA groundfish fisheries
be used to monitor the proposed 2014
and 2015 halibut bycatch mortality
allowances (see Tables 9 through 11).
The IPHC developed the DMRs for the
2013 through 2015 GOA groundfish
fisheries using the 10-year mean DMRs
for those fisheries. Long-term average
DMRs were not available for some
fisheries, so rates from the most recent
years were used. For the sculpin, shark,
squid, skate, and octopus fisheries,
where insufficient mortality data are
available, the mortality rate of halibut
caught in the Pacific cod fishery for that
gear type was recommended as a default
rate. The IPHC will analyze observer
data annually and recommend changes
to the DMRs when a fishery DMR shows
large variation from the mean. A
discussion of the DMRs and how the
IPHC establishes them is available from
the Council (see ADDRESSES). Table 13
lists the proposed 2014 and 2015 DMRs.
TABLE 13—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 HALIBUT DISCARD MORTALITY RATES FOR VESSELS FISHING IN THE GULF OF
ALASKA
[Values are percent of halibut assumed to be dead]
Gear
Target fishery
Hook-and-line .....................................................................
Other fisheries 1 ..................................................................
Skates .................................................................................
Pacific cod ..........................................................................
Rockfish ..............................................................................
Arrowtooth flounder ............................................................
Deep-water flatfish .............................................................
Flathead sole ......................................................................
Non-pelagic pollock ............................................................
Other fisheries ....................................................................
Pacific cod ..........................................................................
Pelagic pollock ...................................................................
Rex sole .............................................................................
Rockfish ..............................................................................
Sablefish .............................................................................
Shallow-water flatfish .........................................................
Other fisheries ....................................................................
Pacific cod ..........................................................................
Trawl ...................................................................................
Pot ......................................................................................
1 Other
11
11
11
9
73
43
65
60
62
62
71
69
66
71
67
17
17
fisheries includes all gear types for Atka mackerel, sculpins, sharks, squids, octopuses, and hook-and-line sablefish.
Chinook Salmon Prohibited Species
Catch Limits
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Mortality rate (%)
Amendment 93 to the FMP (77 FR
42629, July 20, 2012) established
separate Chinook salmon PSC limits in
the Western and Central GOA in the
directed pollock fishery. These limits
require NMFS to close the pollock
directed fishery in the Western and
Central regulatory areas of the GOA if
the applicable limit is reached
(§ 679.21(h)(6)). The annual Chinook
salmon PSC limits in the pollock
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:46 Dec 09, 2013
Jkt 232001
directed fishery of 6,684 salmon in the
Western GOA and 18,316 salmon in the
Central GOA are set in regulation at
§ 679.21(h)(2)(i) and (ii). In addition, all
salmon (regardless of species), taken in
the pollock directed fisheries in the
Western and Central GOA must be
retained until an observer at the
processing facility that takes delivery of
the catch is provided an opportunity to
count the number of salmon and to
collect any scientific data or biological
PO 00000
Frm 00052
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
samples from the salmon
(§ 679.21(h)(4)).
American Fisheries Act (AFA) Catcher/
Processor and Catcher Vessel
Groundfish Sideboard Limits
Section 679.64 establishes groundfish
harvesting and processing sideboard
limits on AFA C/Ps and CVs in the
GOA. These sideboard limits are
necessary to protect the interests of
fishermen and processors who do not
directly benefit from the AFA from
E:\FR\FM\10DEP1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 10, 2013 / Proposed Rules
those fishermen and processors who
receive exclusive harvesting and
processing privileges under the AFA.
Section 679.7(k)(1)(ii) prohibits listed
AFA C/Ps from harvesting any species
of fish in the GOA. Additionally,
§ 679.7(k)(1)(iv) prohibits listed AFA C/
Ps from processing any pollock
harvested in a directed pollock fishery
in the GOA and any groundfish
harvested in Statistical Area 630 of the
GOA.
AFA CVs that are less than 125 ft
(38.1 meters) length overall, have
annual landings of pollock in the Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands of less than
5,100 mt, and have made at least 40
landings of GOA groundfish from 1995
through 1997 are exempt from GOA
sideboard limits under § 679.64(b)(2)(ii).
Sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA
CVs operating in the GOA are based on
their traditional harvest levels of TAC in
groundfish fisheries covered by the
FMP. Section 679.64(b)(3)(iii)
74093
establishes the groundfish sideboard
limitations in the GOA based on the
retained catch of non-exempt AFA CVs
of each sideboard species from 1995
through 1997 divided by the TAC for
that species over the same period.
Table 14 lists the proposed 2014 and
2015 groundfish sideboard limits for
non-exempt AFA CVs. NMFS will
deduct all targeted or incidental catch of
sideboard species made by non-exempt
AFA CVs from the sideboard limits
listed in Table 14.
TABLE 14—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 GOA NON-EXEMPT AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL (CV)
GROUNDFISH HARVEST SIDEBOARD LIMITS
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Species
Pollock ................................
A Season, January 20–
March 10.
C Season, August 25–October 1.
D Season, October 1–November 1.
Annual ................................
A Season 1, January 1–
June 10.
B Season 2, September 1–
December 31.
Annual ................................
Sablefish .............................
Annual, trawl gear ..............
Flatfish, shallow-water ........
Annual ................................
Flatfish, deep-water ............
Annual ................................
Annual ................................
Arrowtooth flounder ............
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Rex sole ..............................
Annual ................................
Flathead sole ......................
Annual ................................
Pacific ocean perch ............
Annual ................................
Northern rockfish ................
Annual ................................
VerDate Mar<15>2010
Proposed
2014 and
2015 TACs
Proposed
2014 and
2015 nonexempt AFA
CV
sideboard
limit
Shumagin (610) .................................
0.6047
3,921
2,371
Chirikof (620) .....................................
Kodiak (630) ......................................
Shumagin (610) .................................
0.1167
0.2028
0.6047
15,015
5,480
3,921
1,752
1,112
2,371
Chirikof (620) .....................................
Kodiak (630) ......................................
Shumagin (610) .................................
0.1167
0.2028
0.6047
18,102
2,393
8,903
2,112
485
5,384
Chirikof (620) .....................................
Kodiak (630) ......................................
Shumagin (610) .................................
0.1167
0.2028
0.6047
6,943
8,570
8,903
810
1,738
5,384
Chirikof (620) .....................................
Kodiak (630) ......................................
WYK (640) .........................................
SEO (650) ..........................................
W ........................................................
0.1167
0.2028
0.3495
0.3495
0.1331
6,943
8,570
3,093
10,774
13,262
810
1,738
1,081
3,766
1,765
C ........................................................
W ........................................................
0.0692
0.1331
23,113
8,841
1,599
1,177
C ........................................................
E inshore ............................................
E offshore ..........................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
0.0692
0.0079
0.0078
0.0000
0.0642
0.0433
0.0156
0.0587
0.0126
0.0000
0.0647
0.0128
0.0007
0.0384
0.0029
0.0021
0.0280
0.0002
0.0036
0.0213
0.0009
0.0023
0.0748
0.0466
0.0003
0.0277
15,409
2,273
253
328
1,039
245
13,250
18,000
5,391
176
2,308
2,642
1,287
6,310
1,645
14,500
75,000
13,800
8,650
15,400
6,582
2,005
10,740
3,388
1,899
2,951
1,066
18
2
0
67
11
207
1,057
68
Apportionments by season/
gear
B Season, March 10–May
31.
Pacific cod ..........................
Ratio of 1995–
1997 nonexempt AFA
CV catch to
1995–1997
TAC
18:46 Dec 09, 2013
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Area/component
Frm 00053
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
E:\FR\FM\10DEP1.SGM
10DEP1
149
34
1
242
5
30
2,100
3
31
328
6
5
803
158
1
82
74094
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 10, 2013 / Proposed Rules
TABLE 14—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 GOA NON-EXEMPT AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL (CV)
GROUNDFISH HARVEST SIDEBOARD LIMITS—Continued
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Ratio of 1995–
1997 nonexempt AFA
CV catch to
1995–1997
TAC
Species
Apportionments by season/
gear
Area/component
Shortraker rockfish ..............
Annual ................................
Dusky rockfish ....................
Annual ................................
Rougheye rockfish ..............
Annual ................................
Demersal shelf rockfish ......
Thornyhead rockfish ...........
Annual ................................
Annual ................................
Other Rockfish ....................
Annual ................................
Atka mackerel .....................
Big skates ...........................
Annual ................................
Annual ................................
Longnose skates .................
Annual ................................
Other skates .......................
Squids .................................
Sharks .................................
Octopuses ...........................
Sculpins ..............................
Annual
Annual
Annual
Annual
Annual
Proposed
2014 and
2015 TACs
Proposed
2014 and
2015 nonexempt AFA
CV
sideboard
limit
0.0000
0.0218
0.0110
0.0001
0.0000
0.0067
0.0000
0.0237
0.0124
0.0020
0.0280
0.0280
0.0280
0.0034
0.1699
0.0000
0.0309
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
104
452
525
354
3,317
742
83
871
300
303
150
766
749
44
606
430
2,000
469
1,793
1,505
70
1,879
676
2,030
5,884
6,028
1,148
1,455
0
10
6
0
0
5
0
21
4
1
4
21
21
0
103
0
62
3
11
9
0
12
4
13
37
38
7
9
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
SEO ...................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
Gulfwide .............................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
Gulfwide .............................................
Gulfwide .............................................
Gulfwide .............................................
Gulfwide .............................................
Gulfwide .............................................
1 The
2 The
................................
................................
................................
................................
................................
Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
Non-Exempt AFA Catcher Vessel
Halibut PSC Limits
The halibut PSC sideboard limits for
non-exempt AFA CVs in the GOA are
based on the aggregate retained
groundfish catch by non-exempt AFA
CVs in each PSC target category from
1995 through 1997 divided by the
retained catch of all vessels in that
fishery from 1995 through 1997
(§ 679.64(b)(4)). Table 15 lists the
proposed 2014 and 2015 non-exempt
AFA CV halibut PSC limits for vessels
using trawl gear in the GOA.
TABLE 15—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 NON-EXEMPT AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL HALIBUT PROHIBITED
SPECIES CATCH (PSC) LIMITS FOR VESSELS USING TRAWL GEAR IN THE GOA
[PSC limits are rounded to the nearest whole metric ton]
Ratio of 1995–
1997 nonexempt AFA
CV retained
catch to total
retained catch
Season dates
Target fishery
1 ...................
January 20–April 1 ............................
2 ...................
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Season
April 1–July 1 .....................................
3 ...................
July 1–September 1 ..........................
4 ...................
September 1–October 1 ....................
5 ...................
October 1–December 31 ...................
Proposed
2014 and
2015 PSC limit
0.340
0.070
0.340
0.070
0.340
0.070
0.340
0.070
0.205
444
99
99
296
197
395
148
0
296
shallow-water .....................................
deep-water .........................................
shallow-water .....................................
deep-water .........................................
shallow-water .....................................
deep-water .........................................
shallow-water .....................................
deep-water .........................................
all targets ...........................................
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18:46 Dec 09, 2013
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Frm 00054
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
E:\FR\FM\10DEP1.SGM
10DEP1
Proposed
2014 and
2015 nonexempt AFA
CV PSC limit
151
7
34
21
67
28
50
0
61
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 10, 2013 / Proposed Rules
Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish
Sideboard Limits
Section 680.22 establishes groundfish
catch limits for vessels with a history of
participation in the Bering Sea snow
crab fishery to prevent these vessels
from using the increased flexibility
provided by the Crab Rationalization
Program to expand their level of
participation in the GOA groundfish
fisheries. Sideboard limits restrict these
vessels’ catch to their collective
historical landings in each GOA
groundfish fishery (except the fixed-gear
sablefish fishery). Sideboard limits also
apply to landings made using an LLP
license derived from the history of a
restricted vessel, even if that LLP
license is used on another vessel.
The basis for these sideboard limits is
described in detail in the final rules
implementing the major provisions of
the Crab Rationalization Program,
including Amendments 18 and 19 to the
Fishery Management Plan for Bering
Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner
Crabs (Crab FMP) (70 FR 10174, March
74095
2, 2005) and Amendment 34 to the Crab
FMP (76 FR 35772, June 20, 2011). In
addition, Amendment 83 to the GOA
FMP (76 FR 74670, December 1, 2011)
further modified the calculation of these
sideboard limits.
Table 16 lists these proposed 2014
and 2015 groundfish sideboard
limitations for non-AFA crab vessels.
All targeted or incidental catch of
sideboard species made by non-AFA
crab vessels or associated LLP licenses
will be deducted from these sideboard
limits.
TABLE 16—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 GOA NON-AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CRAB VESSEL GROUNDFISH HARVEST
SIDEBOARD LIMITS
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Species
Pollock ................................
C Season, August 25–October 1.
D Season, October 1–November 1.
Annual ................................
A Season,1 January 1–
June 10.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
B Season,2 September 1–
December 31.
Annual ................................
Sablefish .............................
VerDate Mar<15>2010
Shumagin (610) .................................
0.0098
3,921
38
Chirikof (620) .....................................
Kodiak (630) ......................................
Shumagin (610) .................................
0.0031
0.0002
0.0098
15,015
5,481
3,920
47
1
38
Chirikof (620) .....................................
Kodiak (630) ......................................
Shumagin (610) .................................
0.0031
0.0002
0.0098
18,102
2,393
8,903
56
0
87
Chirikof (620) .....................................
Kodiak (630) ......................................
Shumagin (610) .................................
0.0031
0.0002
0.0098
6,944
8,568
8,903
22
2
87
Chirikof (620) .....................................
Kodiak (630) ......................................
WYK (640) .........................................
SEO (650) ..........................................
W Jig CV ............................................
0.0031
0.0002
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
6,944
8,568
3,093
10,774
13,262
22
2
0
0
0
W Hook-and-line CV ..........................
W Hook-and-line C/P .........................
W Pot CV ...........................................
W Pot C/P ..........................................
W Trawl CV .......................................
C Jig CV ............................................
C Hook-and-line CV ...........................
C Hook-and-line C/P ..........................
C Pot CV ............................................
C Pot C/P ...........................................
C Trawl CV ........................................
W Jig CV ............................................
0.0004
0.0018
0.0997
0.0078
0.0007
0.0000
0.0001
0.0012
0.0474
0.0136
0.0012
0.0000
13,262
13,262
13,262
13,262
13,262
23,113
23,113
23,113
23,113
23,113
23,113
8,841
5
24
1,322
103
9
0
2
28
1,096
314
28
0
W Hook-and-line CV ..........................
W Hook-and-line C/P .........................
W Pot CV ...........................................
W Pot C/P ..........................................
W Trawl CV .......................................
C Jig CV ............................................
C Hook-and-line CV ...........................
C Hook-and-line C/P ..........................
C Pot CV ............................................
C Pot C/P ...........................................
C Trawl CV ........................................
E inshore ............................................
E offshore ..........................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
0.0004
0.0018
0.0997
0.0078
0.0007
0.0000
0.0001
0.0012
0.0474
0.0136
0.0012
0.0110
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
8,841
8,841
8,841
8,841
8,841
15,409
15,409
15,409
15,409
15,409
15,409
2,273
253
328
1,039
4
16
881
69
6
0
2
18
730
210
18
25
0
0
0
Area/component/gear
B Season, March 10–May
31.
Pacific cod ..........................
Proposed
2014 and
2015 TACs
Season/gear
A Season, January 20–
March 10.
Annual, trawl gear ..............
19:26 Dec 09, 2013
Jkt 232001
PO 00000
Proposed
2014 and
2015 nonAFA crab
vessel
sideboard
limit
Ratio of 1996–
2000 non-AFA
crab vessel
catch to 1996–
2000 total
harvest
Frm 00055
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
E:\FR\FM\10DEP1.SGM
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74096
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 10, 2013 / Proposed Rules
TABLE 16—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 GOA NON-AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CRAB VESSEL GROUNDFISH HARVEST
SIDEBOARD LIMITS—Continued
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Species
Season/gear
Flatfish, shallow-water ........
Annual ................................
Flatfish, deep-water ............
Annual ................................
Rex sole ..............................
Annual ................................
Arrowtooth flounder ............
Annual ................................
Flathead sole ......................
Annual ................................
Pacific ocean perch ............
Annual ................................
Northern rockfish ................
Annual ................................
Shortraker rockfish ..............
Annual ................................
Dusky rockfish ....................
Annual ................................
Rougheye rockfish ..............
Annual ................................
Demersal shelf rockfish ......
Thornyhead rockfish ...........
Annual ................................
Annual ................................
Other rockfish .....................
Annual ................................
Atka mackerel .....................
Big skate .............................
Annual ................................
Annual ................................
Longnose skate ..................
Annual ................................
Other skates .......................
Sculpins ..............................
Sharks .................................
Squids .................................
Octopuses ...........................
Annual
Annual
Annual
Annual
Annual
1 The
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
2 The
Area/component/gear
................................
................................
................................
................................
................................
Ratio of 1996–
2000 non-AFA
crab vessel
catch to 1996–
2000 total
harvest
Proposed
2014 and
2015 TACs
0.0000
0.0059
0.0001
0.0000
0.0035
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0004
0.0001
0.0000
0.0002
0.0004
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0005
0.0000
0.0013
0.0012
0.0009
0.0017
0.0000
0.0000
0.0067
0.0047
0.0008
0.0000
0.0047
0.0066
0.0045
0.0035
0.0033
0.0000
0.0000
0.0392
0.0159
0.0000
0.0392
0.0159
0.0000
0.0176
0.0176
0.0176
0.0176
0.0176
245
13,250
18,000
5,391
176
2,308
2,642
1,287
6,310
1,645
14,500
75,000
13,800
8,650
15,400
6,582
2,005
10,740
3,388
1,899
2,951
104
452
525
354
3,317
742
83
871
300
303
150
766
749
44
606
430
2,000
469
1,793
1,505
70
1,879
676
2,030
5,884
6,028
1,148
1,455
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
SEO ...................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
Gulfwide .............................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
W ........................................................
C ........................................................
E .........................................................
Gulfwide .............................................
Gulfwide .............................................
Gulfwide .............................................
Gulfwide .............................................
Gulfwide .............................................
Proposed
2014 and
2015 nonAFA crab
vessel
sideboard
limit
0
78
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
6
8
0
2
6
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
4
0
0
1
5
3
0
2
0
0
18
29
0
3
30
0
36
104
106
20
26
Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
Rockfish Program Groundfish
Sideboard and Halibut PSC Limitations
The Rockfish Program establishes
three classes of sideboard provisions:
CV groundfish sideboard restrictions, C/
P rockfish sideboard restrictions, and C/
P opt-out vessel sideboard restrictions.
These sideboards are intended to limit
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the ability of rockfish harvesters to
expand into other fisheries.
CVs participating in the Rockfish
Program may not participate in directed
fishing for dusky rockfish, northern
rockfish, and Pacific ocean perch in the
Western GOA and West Yakutat
Districts from July 1 through July 31.
Also, CVs may not participate in
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
directed fishing for arrowtooth flounder,
deep-water flatfish, and rex sole in the
GOA from July 1 through July 31
(§ 679.82(d)).
Catcher/processors participating in
Rockfish Program cooperatives are
restricted by rockfish and halibut PSC
sideboard limits. These C/Ps are
prohibited from directed fishing for
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northern rockfish, Pacific ocean perch,
and dusky rockfish in the Western GOA
and West Yakutat District from July 1
through July 31. Holders of C/Pdesignated LLP licenses that opt-out of
participating in a rockfish cooperative
74097
District. Due to confidentiality
requirements associated with fisheries
data, the sideboard limits for the West
Yakutat District are not displayed.
will receive the portion of each
sideboard limit that is not assigned to
rockfish cooperatives. Table 17 lists the
proposed 2014 and 2015 Rockfish
Program C/P rockfish sideboard limits
in the Western GOA and West Yakutat
TABLE 17—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 ROCKFISH PROGRAM HARVEST LIMITS FOR THE WESTERN GOA AND WEST
YAKUTAT DISTRICT BY FISHERY FOR THE CATCHER/PROCESSOR SECTOR
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area
Fishery
C/P sector
(% of TAC)
Western GOA .................................................
Dusky rockfish ................................................
Pacific ocean perch ........................................
Northern rockfish ............................................
Dusky rockfish ................................................
Pacific ocean perch ........................................
Proposed
2014 and
2015 TACs
72.3 ................
50.6 ................
74.3 ................
Confid.1 ..........
Confid.1 ..........
West Yakutat District ......................................
1 Not
Proposed
2014 and
2015 C/P limit
354
2,005
1,899
465
1,613
256
1,015
1,411
N/A
N/A
released due to confidentiality requirements associated with fish ticket data established by NMFS and the State of Alaska.
The C/P sector is subject to halibut
PSC sideboard limits for the trawl deepwater and shallow-water species
fisheries from July 1 through July 31. No
halibut PSC sideboard limits apply to
the CV sector as vessels participating in
a rockfish cooperative receive a portion
of the annual halibut PSC limit. C/Ps
that opt-out of the Rockfish Program
would be able to access that portion of
the deep-water and shallow-water
halibut PSC sideboard limit not
assigned to C/P rockfish cooperatives.
The sideboard provisions for C/Ps that
elect to opt-out of participating in a
rockfish cooperative are described in
§ 679.82(c), (e), and (f). Sideboards are
linked to the catch history of specific
vessels that may choose to opt-out. The
applications for C/Ps electing to opt-out
are due to NMFS on March 1 of each
calendar year; therefore, NMFS cannot
calculate proposed 2014 and 2015
allocations. Once opt-out applications
(if any) are received in 2014, the ratios
and amounts used to calculate opt-out
sideboard ratios will be known. NMFS
will then calculate any applicable optout sideboards and post these
allocations on the Alaska Region Web
site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/
sustainablefisheries/goarat/default.htm)
when they have been prepared.
Table 18 lists the 2014 and 2015
proposed Rockfish Program halibut PSC
limits for the C/P sector.
TABLE 18—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 ROCKFISH PROGRAM HALIBUT MORTALITY LIMITS FOR THE CATCHER/PROCESSOR
SECTOR
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Sector
Shallow-water
species fishery
halibut PSC
sideboard ratio
(percent)
Deep-water
species fishery
halibut PSC
sideboard ratio
(percent)
Annual halibut
mortality limit
(mt)
Annual shallow-water species fishery
halibut PSC
sideboard limit
(mt)
Annual deepwater species
fishery halibut
PSC
sideboard limit
(mt)
Catcher/processor ................................................................
0.10
2.50
1,973
2
49
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
If approved by the Secretary,
implementation of Amendment 95
would phase in a 15-percent reduction
to the Rockfish Program halibut PSC
sideboard limits.
Amendment 80 Program Groundfish
Sideboard and PSC Limits
Amendment 80 to the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area (Amendment 80
Program) established a limited access
privilege program for the non-AFA trawl
C/P sector. To limit the ability of
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participants eligible for the Amendment
80 Program to expand their harvest
efforts in the GOA, the Amendment 80
Program established groundfish and
halibut PSC limits for Amendment 80
Program participants.
Section 679.92 establishes groundfish
harvesting sideboard limits on all
Amendment 80 Program vessels, other
than the F/V Golden Fleece, to amounts
no greater than the limits shown in
Table 37 to part 679. Under regulations
at § 679.92(d), the F/V Golden Fleece is
prohibited from directed fishing for
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
pollock, Pacific cod, Pacific ocean
perch, dusky rockfish, and northern
rockfish in the GOA.
Groundfish sideboard limits for
Amendment 80 Program vessels
operating in the GOA are based on their
average aggregate harvests from 1998 to
2004. Table 19 lists the proposed 2014
and 2015 sideboard limits for
Amendment 80 Program vessels. NMFS
will deduct all targeted or incidental
catch of sideboard species made by
Amendment 80 Program vessels from
the sideboard limits in Table 19.
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TABLE 19—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 GOA GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD LIMITS FOR AMENDMENT 80 PROGRAM VESSELS
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Ratio of
Amendment
80 sector
vessels 1998–
2004 catch to
TAC
Species
Season
Area
Pollock ...................................
A Season, January 20–February 25.
Proposed
2014 and
2015 TAC (mt)
Proposed
2014 and
2015 Amendment 80 vessel sideboards
(mt)
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.002
0.020
0.044
0.020
0.044
0.034
0.994
0.961
1.000
0.764
0.896
3,921
15,015
5,481
3,920
18,102
2,393
8,903
6,944
8,568
8,903
6,944
8,568
3,093
13,262
23,113
8,841
15,409
2,526
2,005
1,613
1,899
354
465
12
30
11
12
36
5
27
14
17
27
14
17
6
265
1,017
177
678
86
1,993
1,550
1,899
270
417
Shumagin (610) ....................
Chirikof (620) ........................
Kodiak (630) .........................
Shumagin (610) ....................
Chirikof (620) ........................
Kodiak (630) .........................
Shumagin (610) ....................
Chirikof (620) ........................
Kodiak (630) .........................
Shumagin (610) ....................
Chirikof (620) ........................
Kodiak (630) .........................
WYK (640) ............................
W ..........................................
C ...........................................
W ..........................................
C ...........................................
WYK ......................................
W ..........................................
WYK ......................................
W ..........................................
W ..........................................
WYK ......................................
B Season, March 10–May 31
C Season, August 25–September 15.
D Season, October 1–November 1.
Pacific ocean perch ...............
Annual ...................................
A Season,1 January 1–June
10.
B Season,2 September 1–
December 31.
Annual ...................................
Annual ...................................
Northern rockfish ...................
Dusky rockfish .......................
Annual ...................................
Annual ...................................
Pacific cod .............................
1 The
2 The
Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
The halibut PSC sideboard limits for
Amendment 80 Program vessels in the
GOA are based on the historic use of
halibut PSC by Amendment 80 Program
vessels in each PSC target category from
1998 through 2004. These values are
slightly lower than the average historic
use to accommodate two factors:
Allocation of halibut PSC cooperative
quota under the Rockfish Program and
the exemption of the F/V Golden Fleece
from this restriction (§ 679.92(b)(2)).
Table 20 lists the proposed 2014 and
2015 halibut PSC limits for Amendment
80 Program vessels, as contained in
Table 38 to 50 CFR part 679.
TABLE 20—PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 HALIBUT PSC SIDEBOARD LIMITS FOR AMENDMENT 80 PROGRAM VESSELS IN
THE GOA
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Historic
Amendment
80 use of the
annual halibut
PSC limit
(ratio)
Season dates
Fishery category
1 ...................
January 20–April 1 ............................
2 ...................
April 1–July 1 .....................................
3 ...................
July 1–September 1 ..........................
4 ...................
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Season
September 1–October 1 ....................
5 ...................
October 1–December 31 ...................
shallow-water .....................................
deep-water .........................................
shallow-water .....................................
deep-water .........................................
shallow-water .....................................
deep-water .........................................
shallow-water .....................................
deep-water .........................................
shallow-water .....................................
deep-water .........................................
Classification
NMFS has determined that the
proposed harvest specifications are
consistent with the FMP and
preliminarily determined that the
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18:46 Dec 09, 2013
Jkt 232001
proposed harvest specifications are
consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens
Act and other applicable laws.
This action is authorized under 50
CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Proposed
2014 and
2015 annual
PSC limit (mt)
Proposed
2014 and
2015 Amendment 80
vessel PSC
sideboard limit
(mt)
0.0048
0.0115
0.0189
0.1072
0.0146
0.0521
0.0074
0.0014
0.0227
0.0371
1,973
1,973
1,973
1,973
1,973
1,973
1,973
1,973
1,973
1,973
9
23
37
212
29
103
15
3
45
73
under Executive Order 12866 and
13563.
NMFS prepared an EIS for this action
and made it available to the public on
January 12, 2007 (72 FR 1512). On
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February 13, 2007, NMFS issued the
Record of Decision (ROD) for the EIS.
Copies of the EIS and ROD for this
action are available from NMFS (see
ADDRESSES). The EIS analyzes the
environmental consequences of the
proposed groundfish harvest
specifications and alternative harvest
strategies on resources in the action
area. The EIS found no significant
environmental consequences from the
proposed action or its alternatives.
NMFS prepared an Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) as required
by section 603 of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (RFA), analyzing the
methodology for establishing the
relevant TACs. The IRFA evaluated the
impacts on small entities of alternative
harvest strategies for the groundfish
fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska. As set
forth in the methodology, TACs are set
to a level that fall within the range of
ABCs recommended by the SSC; the
sum of the TACs must achieve the OY
specified in the FMP. While the specific
numbers that the methodology produces
may vary from year to year, the
methodology itself remains constant.
A description of the proposed action,
why it is being considered, and the legal
basis for this proposed action are
contained in the preamble above. A
copy of the analysis is available from
NMFS (see ADDRESSES). A summary of
the IRFA follows.
The action under consideration is a
harvest strategy to govern the catch of
groundfish in the GOA. The preferred
alternative is the existing harvest
strategy in which TACs fall within the
range of ABCs recommended by the
SSC. This action is taken in accordance
with the FMP prepared by the Council
pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
The entities directly regulated by this
action are those that harvest groundfish
in the EEZ of the GOA and in parallel
fisheries within State waters. These
include entities operating CVs and C/Ps
within the action area and entities
receiving direct allocations of
groundfish. On June 20, 2013, the Small
Business Administration issued a final
rule revising the small business size
standards for several industries effective
July 22, 2013 (78 FR 37398; June 20,
2013). The rule increased the size
standard for Finfish Fishing from $4.0 to
19.0 million, Shellfish Fishing from $4.0
to 5.0 million, and Other Marine Fishing
from $4.0 to 7.0 million. The new size
standards were used to prepare the
IRFA for this action. Fishing vessels are
considered small entities if their total
annual gross receipts, from all their
activities combined, are less than $19.0
million. The IRFA estimates the number
of harvesting vessels that are considered
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18:46 Dec 09, 2013
Jkt 232001
small entities, but these estimates may
overstate the number of small entities
because (1) some vessels may also be
active as tender vessels in the salmon
fishery, fish in areas other than Alaska
and the West Coast, or generate revenue
from other non-fishing sources; and (2)
all affiliations are not taken into
account, especially if the vessel has
affiliations not tracked in available data
(i.e., ownership of multiple vessel or
affiliation with processors) and may be
misclassified as a small entity
The IRFA shows that, in 2012, there
were 1,424 individual catcher vessels
with gross revenues less than or equal
to $19 million. Some of these vessels are
members of AFA inshore pollock
cooperatives, GOA rockfish
cooperatives, or BSAI crab
rationalization cooperatives. Therefore,
under the RFA, it is the aggregate gross
receipts of all participating members of
the cooperative that must meet the
‘‘under $19 million’’ threshold. Vessels
that participate in these cooperatives are
considered to be large entities within
the meaning of the RFA. After
accounting for membership in these
cooperatives, there are an estimated
1,378 small catcher vessel entities
remaining in the GOA groundfish
sector. This latter group of small vessels
had average gross revenues of about
$359,000. Additionally, data presented
in the IRFA indicates that in 2012, 32
catcher/processors grossed less than $19
million. Twenty-five vessels in this
group were estimated to be large entities
because of their affiliations with other
vessels through an Amendment 80
cooperative and the Freezer Longline
Conservation Cooperative. After taking
account of these affiliations, NMFS
estimates that seven of these vessels are
small entities. The average gross
revenue for these seven small catcher/
processor entities was $1.6 million.
The preferred alternative (Alternative
2) was compared to four other
alternatives. Alternative 1 would have
set TACs to generate fishing rates equal
to the maximum permissible ABC (if the
full TAC were harvested), unless the
sum of TACs exceeded the GOA OY, in
which case harvests would be limited to
the OY. Alternative 3 would have set
TACs to produce fishing rates equal to
the most recent 5-year average fishing
rate. Alternative 4 would have set TACs
to equal the lower limit of the GOA OY
range. Alternative 5, the ‘‘no action
alternative,’’ would have set TACs equal
to zero.
The TACs associated with the
preferred harvest strategy are those
adopted by the Council in October 2013,
as per Alternative 2. OFLs and ABCs for
the species were based on
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
74099
recommendations prepared by the
Council’s GOA Plan Team in September
2013, and reviewed by the Council’s
SSC in October 2013. The Council based
its TAC recommendations on those of
its AP, which were consistent with the
SSC’s OFL and ABC recommendations.
Alternative 1 selects harvest rates that
would allow fishermen to harvest stocks
at the level of ABCs, unless total
harvests were constrained by the upper
bound of the GOA OY of 800,000 mt. As
shown in Table 1 of the preamble, the
sum of ABCs in 2014 and 2015 would
be 584,094 mt, which falls below the
upper bound of the OY range. The sum
of TACs is 427,068 mt, which is less
than the sum of ABCs. In this instance,
Alternative 1 is consistent with the
preferred alternative (Alternative 2),
meets the objectives of that action, and
has small entity impacts that are
equivalent to the preferred alternative.
In some instances, the selection of
Alternative 1 would not reflect the
practical implications that increased
TACs (where the sum of TACs equals
the sum of ABCs) for some species
probably would not be fully harvested.
This could be due to a lack of
commercial or market interest in such
species. Additionally, an underharvest
of some TACs could result due to
constraints such as the fixed, and
therefore constraining, PSC limits
associated with the harvest of the GOA
groundfish species.
Alternative 3 selects harvest rates
based on the most recent 5 years of
harvest rates (for species in Tiers 1
through 3) or for the most recent 5 years
of harvests (for species in Tiers 4
through 6). This alternative is
inconsistent with the objectives of this
action, the Council’s preferred harvest
strategy, because it does not take
account of the most recent biological
information for this fishery. NMFS
annually conducts at-sea stock surveys
for different species, as well as
statistical modeling, to estimate stock
sizes and permissible harvest levels.
Actual harvest rates or harvest amounts
are a component of these estimates, but
in and of themselves may not accurately
portray stock sizes and conditions.
Harvest rates are listed for each species
category for each year in the SAFE
report (see ADDRESSES).
Alternative 4 reduces the TACs from
the upper end of the OY range in the
GOA, to its lower end of 116,000 mt,
which would lead to significantly lower
harvests of all species. Overall, this
would reduce 2014 TACs by about 73
percent and would lead to significant
reductions in harvests of species
harvested by small entities. While
reductions of this size would be
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emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
associated with offsetting price
increases, the size of these increases is
very uncertain. There are close
substitutes for GOA groundfish species
available in significant quantities from
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area. While production
declines in the GOA would
undoubtedly be associated with
significant price increases in the GOA,
these increases would still be
constrained by production of
substitutes, and are very unlikely to
offset revenue declines from smaller
production. Thus, this alternative would
have a detrimental impact on small
entities.
Alternative 5, which sets all harvests
equal to zero, would have a significant
adverse economic impact on small
entities and would be contrary to
obligations to achieve OY on a
continuing basis, as mandated by the
Magnuson-Stevens Act. Under
Alternative 5, all 1,378 individual
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18:46 Dec 09, 2013
Jkt 232001
catcher vessels impacted by this rule
would have gross revenues of $0.
Additionally, the seven small catcher/
processor impacted by this rule also
would have gross revenues of $0.
The proposed harvest specifications
(Alternative 2) extend the current 2014
OFLs, ABCs, and TACs to 2014 and
2015. As noted in the IRFA, the Council
may modify these OFLs, ABCs, and
TACs in December 2013, when it
reviews the November 2013 SAFE
reports from its Groundfish Plan Teams,
and the December 2013 meeting reports
of its SSC and AP. Because TACs in the
proposed 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications are unchanged from the
2014 TACs, NMFS does not expect
adverse impacts on small entities. Also,
NMFS does not expect any changes
made by the Council in December 2013
to have significant adverse impacts on
small entities.
This action does not modify
recordkeeping or reporting
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 9990
requirements, or duplicate, overlap, or
conflict with any Federal rules.
Adverse impacts on marine mammals
or endangered species resulting from
fishing activities conducted under this
rule are discussed in the EIS and its
accompanying annual SIRs (see
ADDRESSES).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C.
1540(f); 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C.
3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 105–277; Pub. L. 106–
31; Pub. L. 106–554; Pub. L. 108–199; Pub.
L. 108–447; Pub. L. 109–241; Pub. L. 109–
479.
Dated: December 3, 2013.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
performing the functions and duties of the
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–29354 Filed 12–9–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 10, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 74079-74100]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29354]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 130925836-3836-01]
RIN 0648-XC895
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of
Alaska; Proposed 2014 and 2015 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS proposes 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications,
apportionments, and Pacific halibut prohibited species catch limits for
the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2014
and 2015 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of
the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. The
intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish
resources in the GOA in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act.
[[Page 74080]]
DATES: Comments must be received by January 9, 2014.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
Docket Number NOAA-NMFS-2013-0147, by any one of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2013-0147, click the
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or
attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau,
AK 99802-1668.
Fax: Address written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Fax comments to (907) 586-7557.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information,
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word,
Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
Electronic copies of the Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications
Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS), Supplementary
Information Report (SIR) to the EIS, and the Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) prepared for this action may be obtained
from http://www.regulations.gov or from the Alaska Region Web site at
http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The final 2012 Stock Assessment and
Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish resources of the
GOA, dated November 2012, is available from the North Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council) at 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite 306,
Anchorage, AK 99501, phone 907-271-2809, or from the Council's Web site
at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc. The draft 2013 SAFE report
for the GOA is available from the same source.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the GOA groundfish fisheries in
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the GOA under the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). The Council
prepared the FMP under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801,
et seq. Regulations governing U.S. fisheries and implementing the FMP
appear at 50 CFR parts 600, 679, and 680.
The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to specify the total allowable catch
(TAC) for each target species, the sum of which must be within the
optimum yield (OY) range of 116,000 to 800,000 metric tons (mt).
Section 679.20(c)(1) further requires NMFS to publish and solicit
public comment on proposed annual TACs, Pacific halibut prohibited
species catch (PSC) limits, and seasonal allowances of pollock and
Pacific cod. The proposed harvest specifications in Tables 1 through 20
of this document satisfy these requirements. For 2014 and 2015, the sum
of the proposed TAC amounts is 427,068 mt.
Under Sec. 679.20(c)(3), NMFS will publish the final 2014 and 2015
harvest specifications after (1) considering comments received within
the comment period (see DATES), (2) consulting with the Council at its
December 2013 meeting, (3) considering information presented in the
2013 Supplementary Information Report that assesses the need to prepare
a Supplemental EIS (see ADDRESSES) and, (4) the final 2013 SAFE report
prepared for the 2014 and 2015 groundfish fisheries.
Other Actions Potentially Affecting the 2014 and 2015 Harvest
Specifications
Amendment 95: Halibut Prohibited Species Catch Limit Revisions
At its June 2012 meeting, the Council took final action to reduce
halibut PSC limits in the GOA trawl and hook-and-line groundfish
fisheries. That action, Amendment 95 to the FMP, would change the
process for setting halibut PSC limits, as well as reducing such limits
from their current amounts. Halibut PSC limits would be established in
Federal regulations and would remain in effect until changed by
Secretarial approval of a subsequent Council action to amend those
regulations.
NMFS published a notice of availability for Amendment 95 on August
29, 2013 (78 FR 53419). The public comment period for the notice of
availability on Amendment 95 ended on October 28, 2013. The proposed
rule that would implement Amendment 95 published on September 17, 2013
(78 FR 57106), with public comments accepted through October 17, 2013.
That proposed rule describes the various reductions to the GOA halibut
PSC limits and other, associated components of the action. If approved
by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), Amendment 95 would reduce the
GOA halibut PSC limit for the groundfish trawl gear sector and
groundfish catcher vessel (CV) hook-and-line gear sector by 15 percent.
The proposed reductions would be phased in over 3 years: 7 percent in
year 1, 5 percent in year 2 (to 12 percent), and 3 percent in year 3
(for a total of 15 percent). The proposed reduction for the catcher/
processor (C/P) hook-and-line gear sector would be 7 percent, which
would occur during the first year of implementation. Finally, the
proposed reduction for the hook-and-line demersal shelf rockfish (DSR)
fishery in the Southeast Outside district of the GOA would be 1 mt. The
proposed reductions to the trawl halibut PSC limits use 1,973 mt as the
baseline for the reductions. That baseline limit was established with
the implementation of the Central GOA Rockfish Program (Rockfish
Program) in 2011 (76 FR 81248, December 27, 2011).
Amendment 95 would result in a new trawl sector halibut PSC limit
of 1,848 mt in the first year of implementation (in 2014), 1,759 mt (in
2015), and 1,706 mt (in 2016 and later years). The DSR fishery halibut
PSC limit would be 9 mt. The hook-and-line sector halibut PSC limits
would vary annually, as these limits are based on how the Pacific cod
TAC is annually apportioned between the Central and Western regulatory
areas of the GOA. Based on 2013 Pacific cod TACs in the Western and
Central GOA the hook-and-line C/P sector would receive a 115 mt halibut
PSC limit. The hook-and-line CV sector PSC limit would be 154 mt (in
2014), 146 mt (in 2015), and 141 mt (in 2016 and later years). These
limits are representative of the proposed halibut PSC reductions, but
not the actual limits that would be implemented in future years. The
proposed rule associated with Amendment 95 provides additional details
about these limits (78 FR 57106, September 17, 2013).
Amendment 97: Chinook Salmon Prohibited Species Catch Limits in the
Non-Pollock Trawl Groundfish Fisheries
In June 2013, the Council took action to recommend Amendment 97 to
the
[[Page 74081]]
FMP, as well as accompanying regulations. If approved by the Secretary,
Amendment 97 would implement measures to control Chinook salmon PSC in
all non-pollock trawl groundfish fisheries in the Western and Central
GOA. The directed pollock fishery is not included in the Council's
recommended action, as that fishery is already subject to Chinook PSC
limits (Sec. 679.21(h)). The Council's preferred alternative would set
an initial annual limit of 7,500 Chinook salmon apportioned among the
sectors of catcher/processors, catcher vessels active in the Rockfish
Program, and non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels. A sector would be
prohibited from directed fishing for groundfish if it caught its
apportioned amount of the total Chinook PSC limit. NMFS currently is
developing a proposed rulemaking for this Chinook PSC action. If
approved by the Secretary, the earliest these Chinook salmon PSC limits
could be implemented would be 2015.
Combining Central and Western GOA Other Rockfish Acceptable Biological
Catches (ABCs) and TACs
At its November 2013 meeting, the Council's GOA Groundfish Plan
Team (Plan Team) recommended combining the Western and Central GOA
``other rockfish'' ABCs and TACs. The ``other rockfish'' category in
those areas include ``other rockfish'' (19 species) and demersal shelf
rockfish (7 species). The Plan Team recommended combining these ABCs
and TACs based on the challenges associated with conducting a
comprehensive assessment of all of the species in the ``other
rockfish'' category in the Western and Central GOA. The Council and its
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will consider this
recommendation at the December 2013 Council meeting, and may recommend
combining these ABCs and TACs as recommended by the Plan Team. NMFS
does not anticipate any adverse management or conservation effects if
this were to occur, as directed fishing for other rockfish would
continue to be prohibited in the Western and Central GOA.
Changes to GOA State of Alaska (State) Pacific Cod Guideline Harvest
Level Fisheries
In addition to the Federal Pacific cod fisheries in the GOA, there
are Pacific cod fisheries managed by the State of Alaska (State). The
State's guideline harvest level (GHL) fisheries are conducted
independently of the Federal groundfish fisheries under direct
regulation of the State. The State derives GHLs from the Federal ABC
for each GOA management area, and the TAC for each area is the amount
available after the Council deducts the annual GHL percentage from the
ABC. Thus, Pacific cod TACs are affected by the State's Pacific cod
GHLs. In October 2013, the Alaska Board of Fisheries, a regulatory body
for the State's Department of Fish and Game, adopted a proposal to
increase the GHL in the South Alaska Peninsula management area to 30
percent from 25 percent of the Western GOA ABC. Once implemented, this
would decrease the proposed Pacific cod TAC for the Western GOA. This
is described in further detail in the section of this preamble that
discusses the ``Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts.''
Proposed Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Specifications
In October 2013, the Council, its SSC, and its Advisory Panel (AP)
reviewed the most recent biological and harvest information about the
condition of groundfish stocks in the GOA. This information was
compiled by the GOA Groundfish Plan Team and presented in the final
2012 SAFE report for the GOA groundfish fisheries, dated November 2012
(see ADDRESSES). The SAFE report contains a review of the latest
scientific analyses and estimates of each species' biomass and other
biological parameters, as well as summaries of the available
information on the GOA ecosystem and the economic condition of the
groundfish fisheries off Alaska. From these data and analyses, the Plan
Team estimates an OFL and ABC for each species or species group. The
amounts proposed for the 2014 and 2015 ABCs are based on the 2012 SAFE
report. The AP and Council recommended that the proposed 2014 and 2015
TACs be set equal to proposed ABCs for all species and species groups,
with the exception of the species categories further discussed below.
The proposed ABCs and TACs could be changed in the final harvest
specifications depending on the most recent scientific information
contained in the final 2013 SAFE report.
In November 2013, the Plan Team updated the 2012 SAFE report to
include new information collected during 2013, such as NMFS stock
surveys, revised stock assessments, and catch data. The Plan Team
compiled this information and produced the draft 2013 SAFE report for
presentation at the December 2013 Council meeting. At that meeting, the
Council will consider information in the draft 2013 SAFE report,
recommendations from the November 2013 Plan Team meeting and December
2013 SSC and AP meetings, public testimony, and relevant written public
comments in making its recommendations for the final 2014 and 2015
harvest specifications. Pursuant to section 3.2.3.4.1 of the FMP, the
Council could recommend adjusting the TACs if ``warranted on the basis
of bycatch considerations, management uncertainty, or socioeconomic
considerations, or if required in order to cause the sum of the TACs to
fall within the OY range.''
In previous years, the largest changes from the proposed to the
final harvest specifications have been for OFLs and ABCs based on the
most recent NMFS stock surveys, which provide updated estimates of
stock biomass and spatial distribution, and changes to the models used
for producing stock assessments. NMFS scientists presented updated and
new survey results, changes to assessment models, and accompanying
stock estimates at the September 2013 Plan Team meeting, and the SSC
reviewed this information at the October 2013 Council meeting. The
species with possible model changes are pollock, Pacific cod, flathead
sole, dover sole, rock sole, ``other rockfish,'' and demersal shelf
rockfish. In November 2013, the Plan Team considered updated stock
assessments for groundfish, which were included in the draft 2013 SAFE
report.
If the draft 2013 SAFE report indicates that the stock biomass
trend is increasing for a species, then the final 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications for that species may reflect an increase from the
proposed harvest specifications. The draft 2013 SAFE reports indicate
that the biomass trend for pollock, Pacific cod, deep-water flatfish,
Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, dusky
rockfish, thornyhead rockfish, other rockfish, longnose skates, other
skates, and octopuses may be increasing. Conversely, if the draft 2013
SAFE report indicates that the stock biomass trend is decreasing for a
species, then the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications may
reflect a decrease from the proposed harvest specifications. The draft
2013 SAFE reports indicate that the biomass trend for sablefish,
shallow-water flatfish, rex sole, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole,
rougheye rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish, big skate, sculpins, and
sharks may be decreasing. The biomass trends for Atka mackerel and
squid species are relatively stable.
The proposed OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are based on the best available
biological and socioeconomic information, including projected biomass
trends, information on assumed
[[Page 74082]]
distribution of stock biomass, and revised methods used to calculate
stock biomass. The FMP specifies the formulas, or tiers, to be used to
compute OFLs and ABCs. The formulas applicable to a particular stock or
stock complex are determined by the level of reliable information
available to the fisheries scientists. This information is categorized
into a successive series of six tiers to define OFL and ABC amounts,
with tier one representing the highest level of information quality
available and tier six representing the lowest level of information
quality available. The Plan Team used the FMP tier structure to
calculate OFLs and ABCs for each groundfish species.
The SSC adopted the proposed 2014 and 2015 OFLs and ABCs
recommended by the Plan Team for all groundfish species. The Council
adopted the SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations and the AP's TAC
recommendations. These amounts are unchanged from the final 2014
harvest specifications published in the Federal Register on February
26, 2013 (78 FR 13162), with three exceptions. The TACs for three
species and area combinations in the final 2014 harvest specifications
were mis-specified and would be corrected in this proposed action.
These include the TACs for shallow-water flatfish in the West Yakutat
and Southeast Outside Districts of the GOA, and the TAC for rex sole in
the West Yakutat District. The 2013 TACs for these species and areas
were inadvertently carried forward and published as the 2014 TACs in
the final 2014 harvest specifications. The 2014 TACs for these three
species should have been set equal to the 2014 ABCs for these species.
This resulted in these three TACs being specified as greater than the
available 2014 ABCs. The proposed 2014 and 2015 TACs for these species
incorporate corrections to these mis-specifications.
Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts
The Council recommended proposed 2014 and 2015 TACs that are equal
to proposed ABCs for all species and species groups, with the
exceptions of Atka mackerel, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, and
shallow-water flatfish, ``other rockfish,'' rex sole, Pacific cod, and
pollock. The Atka mackerel TAC is set to accommodate incidental catch
amounts of this species in other directed fisheries. The arrowtooth
flounder, flathead sole, and shallow-water flatfish TACs are set to
conserve the halibut PSC limit for use in other fisheries. The ``other
rockfish'' TAC is set to reduce the potential amount of discards in the
Southeast Outside (SEO) District. The rex sole TAC in the West Yakutat
District was set to accommodate incidental catch amounts of this
species in other directed fisheries.
The Pacific cod TACs are set to accommodate the State's GHL for
Pacific cod so that ABCs are not exceeded. State GHL fisheries for
Pacific cod are established in the Western and Central Regulatory
Areas, as well as in Prince William Sound (PWS). The Plan Team, SSC,
AP, and Council recommended that the sum of all State and Federal water
Pacific cod removals from the GOA not exceed ABC recommendations.
Accordingly, the Council reduced the proposed 2014 and 2015 Pacific cod
TACs in the Eastern, Central, and Western Regulatory Areas to account
for State GHLs. Therefore, the proposed 2014 and 2015 Pacific cod TACs
are less than the proposed ABCs by the following amounts: (1) Eastern
GOA, 842 mt; (2) Central GOA, 12,841 mt; and (3) Western GOA, 7,368 mt.
These amounts reflect the sum of the State's 2014 and 2015 GHLs in
these areas, which are 25 percent of the Eastern, Central, and Western
GOA proposed ABCs, respectively. As described above, the State adopted
an increase to the GHL for the State Pacific cod fishery in the Western
GOA in October 2013. This increase, to 30 percent from 25 percent,
would decrease the Western GOA Pacific cod TAC proposed by this action
to 20,629 mt from 22,103 mt. This change will be incorporated in the
final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications, following the Council's
review of this change at its December 2013 meeting. The final Western
GOA Pacific cod TAC may be either lower or higher than the above amount
(20,629 mt), as the 2014 and 2015 Pacific cod ABCs will probably differ
from those proposed in this action, based on the updated stock biomass
trends that will be contained in the draft 2013 SAFE report.
The ABC for the pollock stock in the combined Western, Central, and
West Yakutat Regulatory Areas (W/C/WYK) has been adjusted to reflect
the GHL established by the State for the PWS pollock fishery since its
inception in 1995. Genetic studies have led fisheries scientists to
believe that the pollock in PWS is not a separate stock from the
combined W/C/WYK population. The Plan Team has had a protocol of
recommending that the GHL amount be deducted from the Gulf-wide ABC
since 1996. Accordingly, the Council recommended decreasing the W/C/WYK
pollock ABC to account for the State's PWS GHL. For 2014 and 2015, the
proposed PWS pollock GHL is 2,583 mt, as recommended by State fisheries
managers.
NMFS proposed apportionment for groundfish species are based on the
distribution of biomass among the regulatory areas under which NMFS
manages the species. Additional regulations govern the apportionment of
Pacific cod, pollock, and sablefish. Additional detail on the
apportionment of Pacific cod and pollock are described below, and
briefly summarized here.
NMFS proposes Pacific cod TACs in the Western, Central, and Eastern
GOA (see Table 1). NMFS also proposes seasonal apportionment of the
Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas. Sixty
percent of the annual TAC is apportioned to the A season for hook-and-
line, pot, or jig gear from January 1 through June 10, and for trawl
gear from January 20 through June 10. Forty percent of the annual TAC
is apportioned to the B season for jig gear from June 10 through
December 31, for hook-and-line or pot gear from September 1 through
December 31, and for trawl gear from September 1 through November 1
(Sec. Sec. 679.23(d)(3) and 679.20(a)(12)). The Western and Central
GOA Pacific cod gear and sector apportionments are discussed in detail
below; Table 3 lists these amounts.
NMFS proposes pollock TACs in the Western, Central, West Yakutat
Regulatory Areas, and the Southeast Outside District of the GOA (see
Table 1). NMFS also proposes seasonal apportionment of the annual
pollock TAC in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA
among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, and divided equally among
each of the following four seasons: the A season (January 20 through
March 10), the B season (March 10 through May 31), the C season (August
25 through October 1), and the D season (October 1 through November 1)
(Sec. 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), and Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A) and
(B)). Additional detail is provided below; Table 2 lists these amounts.
The Council's recommendation for sablefish area apportionments
takes into account the prohibition on the use of trawl gear in the SEO
District of the Eastern Regulatory Area and makes available 5 percent
of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area TACs to trawl gear for use as
incidental catch in other directed groundfish fisheries in the WYK
District (Sec. 679.20(a)(4)(i)). Additional detail is provided below;
Tables 4 and 5 list these amounts.
The sum of the proposed TACs for all GOA groundfish is 427,068 mt
for 2014 and 2015, which is within the OY range specified by the FMP.
The sums of the proposed 2014 and 2015 TACs are lower than the final
2013 TACs currently specified for the GOA groundfish
[[Page 74083]]
fisheries (78 FR 13162, February 26, 2013). The proposed 2014 and 2015
TACs for Pacific cod, flathead sole, and rougheye rockfish are higher
than the final 2013 TACs for these species. The proposed 2014 and 2015
TACs for pollock, sablefish, shallow-water flatfish, rex sole, Pacific
ocean perch, northern rockfish, and dusky rockfish are lower than the
final 2013 TACs for these species. The proposed 2014 and 2015 TACs for
the remaining species are equal to the final 2013 TACs.
For 2014 and 2015, the Council recommends and NMFS proposes the
OFLs, ABCs, and TACs listed in Table 1. The proposed ABCs reflect
harvest amounts that are less than the specified overfishing levels.
The sum of the proposed 2014 and 2015 ABCs for all assessed groundfish
is 584,094 mt, which is lower than the final 2013 ABC total of 595,920
mt (78 FR 13162, February 26, 2013).
Table 1 lists the proposed 2014 and 2015 OFLs, ABCs, TACs, and area
apportionments of groundfish in the GOA. These amounts are consistent
with the biological condition of groundfish stocks as described in the
2012 SAFE report, and adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic
considerations, including maintaining the total TAC within the required
OY range. These proposed amounts and apportionments by area, season,
and sector are subject to change pending consideration of the draft
2013 SAFE report and the Council's recommendations for the final 2014
and 2015 harvest specifications during its December 2013 meeting.
Table 1--Proposed 2014 and 2015 ABCs, TACs, and OFLs of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat (W/C/
WYK), Western (W), Central (C), Eastern (E) Regulatory Areas, and in the West Yakutat (WYK), Southeast Outside
(SEO), and Gulfwide (GW) Districts of the Gulf of Alaska
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Area \1\ OFL ABC TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \2\....................... Shumagin (610)....... n/a 25,648 25,648
Chirikof (620)....... n/a 47,004 47,004
Kodiak (630)......... n/a 25,011 25,011
WYK (640)............ n/a 3,093 3,093
W/C/WYK (subtotal)... 138,610 100,756 100,756
SEO (650)............ 14,366 10,774 10,774
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............. 152,976 111,530 111,530
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod \3\.................... W.................... n/a 29,470 22,103
C.................... n/a 51,362 38,522
E.................... n/a 3,368 2,526
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............. 101,100 84,200 63,150
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish \4\...................... W.................... n/a 1,641 1,641
C.................... n/a 5,195 5,195
WYK.................. n/a 1,902 1,902
SEO.................. n/a 2,993 2,993
E (WYK and SEO) n/a 4,895 4,895
(subtotal).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............. 13,871 11,731 11,731
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shallow-water flatfish \6\......... W.................... n/a 18,033 13,250
C.................... n/a 18,660 18,000
WYK.................. n/a 4,299 4,299
SEO.................. n/a 1,092 1,092
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............. 51,580 42,084 36,641
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deep-water flatfish \5\............ W.................... n/a 176 176
C.................... n/a 2,308 2,308
WYK.................. n/a 1,581 1,581
SEO.................. n/a 1,061 1,061
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............. 6,834 5,126 5,126
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole........................... W.................... n/a 1,287 1,287
C.................... n/a 6,310 6,310
WYK.................. n/a 823 823
SEO.................. n/a 1,040 822
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............. 12,362 9,460 9,242
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder................ W.................... n/a 26,970 14,500
C.................... n/a 140,424 75,000
WYK.................. n/a 20,754 6,900
SEO.................. n/a 20,663 6,900
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............. 245,262 208,811 103,300
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole...................... W.................... n/a 16,063 8,650
[[Page 74084]]
C.................... n/a 27,126 15,400
WYK.................. n/a 4,785 4,785
SEO.................. n/a 1,797 1,797
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............. 62,296 49,771 30,632
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch \7\............ W.................... n/a 2,005 2,005
C.................... n/a 10,740 10,740
WYK.................. n/a 1,613 1,613
W/C/WYK.............. 16,555 ................ ................
SEO.................. 2,046 1,775 1,775
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............. 18,061 16,133 16,133
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish \8\.............. W.................... n/a 1,899 1,899
C.................... n/a 2,951 2,951
E.................... n/a ................ ................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............. 5,791 4,850 4,850
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish \9\............ W.................... n/a 104 104
C.................... n/a 452 452
E.................... n/a 525 525
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............. 1,441 1,081 1,081
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dusky rockfish \10\................ W.................... n/a 354 354
C.................... n/a 3,317 3,317
WYK.................. n/a 465 465
SEO.................. n/a 277 277
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............. 5,395 4,413 4,413
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye rockfish \11\............. W.................... n/a 83 83
C.................... n/a 871 871
E.................... n/a 300 300
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............. 1,508 1,254 1,254
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demersal shelf rockfish \12\....... SEO.................. 487 303 303
Thornyhead rockfish \13\........... W.................... n/a 150 150
C.................... n/a 766 766
E.................... n/a 749 749
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............. 2,220 1,665 1,665
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish 14 15............... W.................... n/a 44 44
C.................... n/a 606 606
WYK.................. n/a 230 230
SEO.................. n/a 3,165 200
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............. 5,305 4,045 1,080
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel...................... GW................... 6,200 4,700 2,000
Big skates \16\.................... W.................... n/a 469 469
C.................... n/a 1,793 1,793
E.................... n/a 1,505 1,505
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............. 5,023 3,767 3,767
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Longnose skates \17\............... W.................... n/a 70 70
C.................... n/a 1,879 1,879
E.................... n/a 676 676
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............. 3,500 2,625 2,625
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates \18\.................. GW................... 2,706 2,030 2,030
Sculpins........................... GW................... 7,614 5,884 5,884
Sharks............................. GW................... 8,037 6,028 6,028
Squid.............................. GW................... 1,530 1,148 1,148
[[Page 74085]]
Octopuses.......................... GW................... 1,941 1,455 1,455
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.......................... ..................... 723,580 584,094 427,068
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec. 679.2. (W=Western Gulf of Alaska; C=Central Gulf of
Alaska; E=Eastern Gulf of Alaska; WYK=West Yakutat District; SEO=Southeast Outside District; GW=Gulf-wide).
\2\ Pollock is apportioned in the Western/Central Regulatory Areas among three statistical areas. Table 2 lists
the proposed 2014 and 2015 seasonal apportionments. In the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the
Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided into seasonal allowances.
\3\ Section 679.20(a)(12)(i) requires the allocation of the Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas of the GOA among gear and operational sectors. The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned
among various sectors 60 percent to the A season and 40 percent to the B season in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas of the GOA. In the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA, Pacific cod is allocated 90 percent
for processing by the inshore component and 10 percent for processing by the offshore component. Table 3 lists
the proposed 2014 and 2015 Pacific cod seasonal apportionments.
\4\ Sablefish is allocated to hook-and-line and trawl gear in 2014 and trawl gear in 2015. Tables 4 and 5 list
the proposed 2014 and 2015 allocations of sablefish TACs.
\5\ ``Deep-water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deep-sea sole.
\6\ ``Shallow-water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep-water flatfish,'' flathead sole, rex sole, or
arrowtooth flounder.
\7\ ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\8\ ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinous. For management purposes the 3 mt apportionment of ABC to
the WYK District of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska has been included in the slope rockfish species group.
\9\ ``Shortraker rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis.
\10\ ``Dusky rockfish'' means Sebastes variabilis.
\11\ ``Rougheye rockfish'' means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
\12\ ``Demersal shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper),
S. maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
\13\ ``Thornyhead rockfish'' means ``Sebastes species''
\14\ ``Other rockfish (slope rockfish)'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S.
paucispinis (bocaccio), S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S.
variegatus (harlequin), S. wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus
(sharpchin), S. jordani (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergray), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola
(stripetail), S. miniatus (vermilion), S. reedi (yellowmouth), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus
(yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA only, other rockfish also includes northern rockfish, S. polyspinous.
\15\ ``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means other
rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish.
\16\ ``Big skate'' means Raja binoculata.
\17\ ``Longnose skate'' means Raja rhina.
\18\ ``Other skates'' means Bathyraja spp.
Proposed Apportionment of Reserves
Section 679.20(b)(2) requires NMFS to set aside 20 percent of each
TAC for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, skates, sharks, squids,
sculpins, and octopuses in reserves for possible apportionment at a
later date during the fishing year. In 2013, NMFS apportioned all of
the reserves in the final harvest specifications. For 2014 and 2015,
NMFS proposes reapportionment of all the reserves for pollock, Pacific
cod, flatfish, skates, sharks, squids, sculpins, and octopuses in
anticipation of the projected annual catch of these species. The TACs
in Table 1 reflect the apportionment of reserve amounts for these
species and species groups. Each proposed TAC for the above mentioned
species categories contains the full TAC recommended by the Council,
since none of the relevant species and species groups' TACs contributed
to a reserve that could be used for future reapportionments.
Proposed Apportionments of Pollock TAC Among Seasons and Regulatory
Areas, and Allocations for Processing by Inshore and Offshore
Components
As noted earlier, pollock is apportioned by season and area, and is
further allocated for processing by inshore and offshore components.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the annual pollock TAC specified
for the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is apportioned
into four equal seasonal allowances of 25 percent. As established by
Sec. 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season
allowances are available from January 20 through March 10, March 10
through May 31, August 25 through October 1, and October 1 through
November 1, respectively.
Pollock TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA
are apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, pursuant to
Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A). In the A and B seasons, the apportionments
have historically been based on the proportional distribution of
pollock biomass based on the four most recent NMFS winter surveys. In
the C and D seasons, the apportionments are in proportion to the
distribution of pollock biomass based on the four most recent NMFS
summer surveys. However, for 2014 and 2015, the Council recommends, and
NMFS proposes, averaging the winter and summer distribution of pollock
in the Central Regulatory Area for the A season instead of using the
distribution based on only the winter surveys. This combination of
summer and winter distribution has been used since 2002. The average is
intended to reflect the best available information about migration
patterns, distribution of pollock, and the performance of the fishery
in the area during the A season. During the A season, the apportionment
is based on the proposed adjusted estimate of the relative distribution
of pollock biomass of approximately 16 percent, 62 percent, and 22
percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During
the B season, the apportionment is based on the relative distribution
of pollock biomass of approximately 16 percent, 74 percent, and 10
percent in Statistical
[[Page 74086]]
Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During the C and D seasons, the
apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass
of approximately 36 percent, 28 percent, and 35 percent in Statistical
Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively.
Within any fishing year, the amount by which a seasonal allowance
is underharvested or overharvested may be added to, or subtracted from,
subsequent seasonal allowances in a manner to be determined by the
Regional Administrator (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The rollover amount
is limited to 20 percent of the unharvested seasonal apportionment for
the statistical area. Any unharvested pollock above the 20-percent
limit could be further distributed to the other statistical areas, in
proportion to the estimated biomass in the subsequent season in those
statistical areas (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The proposed 2014 and
2015 pollock TACs in the WYK District of 3,093 mt and SEO District of
10,774 mt are not allocated by season.
Section 679.20(a)(6)(i) requires the allocation of 100 percent of
the pollock TAC in all regulatory areas and all seasonal allowances to
vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component after
subtraction of pollock amounts projected by the Regional Administrator
to be caught by, or delivered to, the offshore component incidental to
directed fishing for other groundfish species. Thus, the amount of
pollock available for harvest by vessels harvesting pollock for
processing by the offshore component is that amount that will be taken
as incidental catch during directed fishing for groundfish species
other than pollock, up to the maximum retainable amounts allowed under
Sec. 679.20(e) and (f). At this time, these incidental catch amounts
of pollock are unknown and will be determined as fishing activity
occurs during the fishing year by the offshore component.
Table 2 lists the proposed 2014 and 2015 seasonal biomass
distribution of pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas,
area apportionments, and seasonal allowances. The amounts of pollock
for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown.
Table 2--Proposed 2014 and 2015 Distribution of Pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska; Seasonal Biomass
Distribution, Area Apportionments, and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC \1\
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season \2\ Shumagin (Area 610)
Chirikof (Area 620)
Kodiak (Area 630) Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A (Jan 20-Mar 10)............................................ 3,921 (16.06%) 15,015 (61.50%) 5,481 (22.45%) 24,416
B (Mar 10-May 31)............................................ 3,921 (16.06%) 18,102 (67.25%) 2,393 (9.80%) 24,416
C (Aug 25-Oct 1)............................................. 8,903 (36.47%) 6,944 (28.44%) 8,568 (32.10%) 24,416
D (Oct 1-Nov 1).............................................. 8,903 (36.47%) 6,944 (28.44%) 8,568 (32.10%) 24,415
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Total \3\......................................... 25,648 ........... 47,004 ........... 25,011 ........... 97,663
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Area apportionments and seasonal allowances may not total precisely due to rounding.
\2\ As established by Sec. 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season allowances are available from January 20 to March 10, March 10 to
May 31, August 25 to October 1, and October 1 to November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore
components are not shown in this table.
\3\ The WYK and SEO District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not included in the total pollock TACs shown in this table.
Proposed Annual and Seasonal Apportionments of Pacific Cod
Section 679.20(a)(6)(ii) requires the allocation of the Pacific cod
TAC between the inshore and offshore components in the Eastern
Regulatory Area of the GOA. Additional apportionment by gear,
operational sectors, and season are not required in the Eastern
Regulatory Area of the GOA.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(i), NMFS proposes allocations for
the 2014 and 2015 Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Section 679.20(a)(12)(i) requires
allocation of the Pacific cod TAC among gear and operational sectors in
each area. In the Central GOA, the Pacific cod TAC is apportioned
seasonally among vessels using jig gear, CVs less than 50 feet in
length overall using hook-and-line gear, CVs equal to or greater than
50 feet in length overall using hook-and-line gear, C/Ps using hook-
and-line gear, CVs using trawl gear, C/Ps using trawl gear, and vessels
using pot gear. In the Western GOA, the Pacific cod TAC is apportioned
seasonally among vessels using jig gear, CVs using hook-and-line gear,
C/Ps using hook-and-line gear, CVs using trawl gear, and vessels using
pot gear. The overall seasonal apportionments in the Western and
Central GOA are 60 percent of the annual TAC to the A season and 40
percent of the annual TAC to the B season.
In accordance with the FMP, the annual jig sector allocations may
increase up to 6 percent of the annual Western and Central GOA Pacific
cod TACs depending on the annual performance of the jig sector (See
Table 1 of Amendment 83 to the FMP for a detailed discussion of the jig
sector allocation process (76 FR 74670, December 1, 2011)). NMFS
proposes that the jig sector receive 2.5 percent of the annual Pacific
cod TAC in the Western GOA. This includes a base allocation of 1.5
percent and an additional 1.0 percent because this sector harvested
greater than 90 percent of its initial 2012 allocation in the Western
GOA. NMFS also proposes that the jig sector would receive 2.0 percent
of the annual Pacific cod TAC in the Central GOA. This includes a base
allocation of 1.0 percent and an additional 1.0 percent because this
sector harvested greater than 90 percent of its initial 2012 allocation
in the Central GOA. In 2013, neither the Western nor Central GOA jig
sectors harvested 90 percent of their respective 2013 Pacific cod
allocations. However, jig sector allocation increases are established
for a minimum of 2 years. In 2014, NMFS will re-evaluate the annual
2013 and 2014 harvest performance of each jig sector and determine
whether to maintain or decrease the jig sector allocations proposed by
this action in conjunction with the 2015 and 2016 proposed harvest
specifications. The jig sector allocations are further apportioned
between the A (60 percent) and B (40 percent) season.
After allocation to the jig sector, the non-jig sector allocations
based on gear type, operation type, and vessel length overall are
allocated the remainder of the annual Pacific cod TAC in the Western
and Central GOA. Table 3 lists
[[Page 74087]]
the seasonal apportionments and allocations of the proposed 2014 and
2015 Pacific cod TACs.
Under Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(ii), any overage or underage of the
Pacific cod allowance from the A season will be subtracted from, or
added to, the subsequent B season allowance. In addition, any portion
of the hook-and-line, trawl, pot, or jig sector allocations that is
determined by NMFS as likely to go unharvested by a sector may be
reapportioned to other sectors for harvest during the remainder of the
fishery year.
Table 3--Proposed 2014 and 2015 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocations of Pacific Cod TAC Amounts to Gear
Types, Operational Types, and Vessel Length Overall in the Western and Central Gulf of Alaska and Allocations
for Processing by the Inshore and Offshore Components in the Eastern Gulf of Alaska
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A season B season
Annual ---------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory area and sector allocation Sector % of Seasonal Sector % of Seasonal
(mt) annual non-jig allowances annual non-jig allowances
TAC (mt) TAC (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western GOA
Jig (2.5% of TAC)........... 553 N/A 332 N/A 221
Hook-and-line CV............ 302 0.70 151 0.70 151
Hook-and-line C/P........... 4,267 10.90 2,349 8.90 1,918
Trawl CV.................... 8,275 27.70 5,969 10.70 2,306
Trawl C/P................... 517 0.90 194 1.50 323
Pot CV and Pot C/P.......... 8,189 19.80 4,267 18.20 3,922
Total................... 22,103 60.00 13,262 40.00 8,841
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central GOA
Jig (2.0% of TAC)........... 770 N/A 462 N/A 308
Hook-and-line < 50 CV....... 5,513 9.32 3,517 5.29 1,996
Hook-and-line >= 50 CV...... 2,532 5.61 2,118 1.10 414
Hook-and-line C/P........... 1,927 4.11 1,550 1.00 377
Trawl CV.................... 15,698 21.13 7,979 20.45 7,720
Trawl C/P................... 1,585 2.00 756 2.19 828
Pot CV and Pot C/P.......... 10,497 17.83 6,731 9.97 3,766
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................... 38,522 60.00 23,113 40.00 15,409
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern GOA..................... .............. Inshore (90% of Annual TAC)
Offshore (10% of Annual TAC)
2,526 2,273
253
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed Allocations of the Sablefish TAC Amounts to Vessels Using
Hook-and-Line and Trawl Gear
Section 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii) require allocations of sablefish
TACs for each of the regulatory areas and districts to hook-and-line
and trawl gear. In the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 80 percent
of each TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear, and 20 percent of each
TAC is allocated to trawl gear. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95
percent of the TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear and 5 percent is
allocated to trawl gear. The trawl gear allocation in the Eastern GOA
may only be used to support incidental catch of sablefish in directed
fisheries for other target species (Sec. 679.20(a)(4)(i)).
In recognition of the prohibition against trawl gear in the SEO
District of the Eastern Regulatory Area, the Council recommended and
NMFS proposes the allocation of 5 percent of the combined Eastern
Regulatory Area sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the WYK District, making
the remainder of the WYK sablefish TAC available to vessels using hook-
and-line gear. As a result, NMFS proposes to allocate 100 percent of
the sablefish TAC in the SEO District to vessels using hook-and-line
gear. This recommendation results in a proposed 2014 allocation of 245
mt to trawl gear and 1,657 mt to hook-and-line gear in the WYK
District, and 2,993 mt to hook-and-line gear in the SEO District. Table
4 lists the allocations of the proposed 2014 sablefish TACs to hook-
and-line and trawl gear. Table 5 lists the allocations of the proposed
2015 sablefish TACs to trawl gear.
The Council recommended that the hook-and-line sablefish TAC be
established annually to ensure that the Individual Fishery Quota (IFQ)
fishery is conducted concurrent with the halibut IFQ fishery and is
based on recent survey information. The Council also recommended that
only the trawl sablefish TAC be established for 2 years so that
retention of incidental catch of sablefish by trawl gear could commence
in January in the second year of the groundfish harvest specifications.
Since there is an annual assessment for sablefish and the final harvest
specifications are expected to be published before the IFQ season
begins (typically, in early March), the Council recommended that the
sablefish TAC be set on an annual basis, rather than for 2 years, so
that the best available scientific information could be considered in
establishing the ABCs and TACs. With the exception of the trawl
allocations that are provided to the Rockfish Program cooperatives (see
Table 28c to part 679), directed fishing for sablefish with trawl gear
is closed during the fishing year. Also, fishing for groundfish with
trawl gear is prohibited prior to January 20. Therefore, it is not
likely that the sablefish allocation to trawl gear would be reached
before the effective date of the final 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications.
[[Page 74088]]
Table 4--Proposed 2014 Sablefish TAC Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocations to Hook-and-Line and Trawl
Gear
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line
Area/district TAC allocation Trawl allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western.............................. 1,641 1,313 328
Central.............................. 5,195 4,156 1,039
West Yakutat \1\..................... 1,902 1,657 245
Southeast Outside.................... 2,993 2,993 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................ 11,731 10,119 1,612
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West
Yakutat and Southeast Outside districts combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat district.
Table 5--Proposed 2015 Sablefish TAC Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocation to Trawl Gear \1\
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line
Area/District TAC allocation Trawl allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western.............................. 1,641 n/a 328
Central.............................. 5,195 n/a 1,039
West Yakutat\2\...................... 1,902 n/a 245
Southeast Outside.................... 2,993 n/a 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................ 11,731 n/a 1,612
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Council recommended that harvest specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish Individual Fishing
Quota fisheries be limited to 1 year.
\2\ The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West
Yakutat and Southeast Outside districts combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat district.
Proposed Apportionments to the Rockfish Program
These proposed 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for the GOA
include the various fishery cooperative allocations and sideboard
limitations established by the Rockfish Program. Program participants
are primarily trawl catcher vessels and trawl catcher/processors, with
limited participation by vessels using longline gear. The Rockfish
Program assigns quota share and cooperative quota to participants for
primary and secondary species, allows a participant holding a license
limitation program (LLP) license with rockfish quota share to form a
rockfish cooperative with other persons, and allows holders of C/P LLP
licenses to opt-out of the fishery. The Rockfish Program also has an
entry level fishery for rockfish primary species for vessels using
longline gear.
Under the Rockfish Program, rockfish primary species (Pacific ocean
perch, northern rockfish, and dusky rockfish) in the Central GOA are
allocated to participants after deducting for incidental catch needs in
other directed groundfish fisheries. Participants in the Rockfish
Program also receive a portion of the Central GOA TAC of specific
secondary species (Pacific cod, rougheye rockfish, sablefish,
shortraker rockfish, and thornyhead rockfish).
Additionally, the Rockfish Program establishes sideboard limits to
restrict the ability of harvesters operating under the Rockfish Program
to increase their participation in other, non-Rockfish Program
fisheries. Besides groundfish species, the Rockfish Program allocates a
portion of the halibut PSC limit from the third season deep-water
species fishery allowance for the GOA trawl fisheries to Rockfish
Program participants. (Rockfish Program sideboards and halibut PSC
limits are discussed below.)
Section 679.81(a)(2)(ii) requires allocations of 5 mt of Pacific
ocean perch, 5 mt of northern rockfish, and 30 mt of dusky rockfish to
the entry level longline fishery in 2014 and 2015. The allocation for
the entry level longline fishery would increase incrementally each year
if the catch exceeds 90 percent of the allocation of a species. The
incremental increase in the allocation would continue each year until
it is the maximum percent of the TAC for that species. In 2013, the
catch did not exceed 90 percent of any allocated rockfish species.
Therefore, NMFS is not proposing an increase to the entry level
longline fishery 2014 and 2015 allocations in the Central GOA. The
remainder of the TACs for the rockfish primary species would be
allocated to the CV and C/P cooperatives. Table 6 lists the allocations
of the proposed 2014 and 2015 TACs for each rockfish primary species to
the entry level longline fishery, the incremental increase for future
years, and the maximum percent of the TAC for the entry level longline
fishery.
Table 6--Proposed 2014 and 2015 Allocations of Rockfish Primary Species to the Entry Level Longline Fishery in
the Central Gulf of Alaska.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Incremental Up to
increase per year maximum
Rockfish primary species Allocations of the proposed 2014 if catch exceeds percent of
and 2015 TAC 90 percent of the each TAC
allocation of: of: (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch........................... 5 metric tons................... 5 metric tons 1
Northern rockfish............................. 5 metric tons................... 5 metric tons 2
[[Page 74089]]
Dusky rockfish................................ 30 metric tons.................. 20 metric tons 5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 679.81(a)(2)(iii) requires allocations of rockfish primary
species among various components of the Rockfish Program. Table 7 lists
the proposed 2014 and 2015 allocations of rockfish in the Central GOA
to the entry level longline fishery and other participants in the
Rockfish Program, which include CV and C/P cooperatives. NMFS also
proposes setting aside incidental catch amounts (ICAs) for other
directed fisheries in the Central GOA of 1,200 mt of Pacific ocean
perch, 200 mt of northern rockfish, and 200 mt of dusky rockfish. These
amounts are based on recent average incidental catches in the Central
GOA by other groundfish fisheries.
Allocations among vessels belonging to CV or C/P cooperatives are
not included in these proposed harvest specifications. Rockfish Program
applications for CV cooperatives and C/P cooperatives are not due to
NMFS until March 1 of each calendar year; therefore, NMFS cannot
calculate 2014 and 2015 allocations in conjunction with these proposed
harvest specifications. NMFS will post these allocations on the Alaska
Region Web site at (http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/goarat/default.htm) when they become available
after March 1.
Table 7--Proposed 2014 and 2015 Allocations of Rockfish Primary Species in the Central Gulf of Alaska to the
Entry Level Longline Fishery and Other Participants in the Rockfish Program
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allocation to
Incidental Allocation to other
Rockfish primary species TAC catch TAC minus ICA the entry participants
allowance level longline in rockfish
\1\ fishery program \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch............. 10,740 1,200 9,540 5 9,535
Northern rockfish............... 2,951 200 2,751 5 2,746
Dusky rockfish.................. 3,317 200 3,117 30 3,087
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total....................... 17,008 1,600 15,408 40 15,368
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Longline gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline gear.
\2\ Other participants in the Rockfish Program include vessels in CV and C/P cooperatives.
Section 679.81(c) requires allocations of rockfish secondary
species to CV and C/P cooperatives in the GOA. CV cooperatives receive
allocations of Pacific cod, sablefish from the trawl gear allocation,
and thornyhead rockfish. C/P cooperatives receive allocations of
sablefish from the trawl allocation, rougheye rockfish, shortraker
rockfish, and thornyhead rockfish. Table 8 lists the apportionments of
the proposed 2014 and 2015 TACs of rockfish secondary species in the
Central GOA to CV and C/P cooperatives.
Table 8--Proposed 2014 and 2015 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA to Catcher
Vessel (CV) and Catcher Processor (C/P) Cooperatives
[Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CV cooperatives C/P cooperatives
Central GOA ---------------------------------------------------------------
Rockfish secondary species annual TAC Percentage of Apportionment Percentage of Apportionment
TAC (mt) TAC (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod..................... 38,522 3.81 1,468 N/A N/A
Sablefish....................... 5,195 6.78 352 3.51 182
Shortraker rockfish............. 452 N/A N/A 40.00 181
Rougheye rockfish............... 871 N/A N/A 58.87 513
Thornyhead rockfish............. 766 7.84 60 26.50 203
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed Halibut PSC Limits
As discussed above, NMFS published a proposed rule to implement
Amendment 95 to the GOA FMP (78 FR 57106, September 17, 2013).
Amendment 95 would include GOA halibut PSC limits in Federal
regulations and reduce halibut PSC limits in the GOA trawl and hook-
and-line groundfish fisheries. For most gear and operational types, the
proposed reductions would be phased-in over 3
[[Page 74090]]
years. This 3-year period could begin as early as 2014, if a final rule
implementing Amendment 95 is approved. Implementation of the Amendment
95 final rule would require reductions to the 2014 halibut PSC limits
in these proposed harvest specifications.
Section 679.21(d) establishes annual halibut PSC limit
apportionments to trawl and hook-and-line gear, and authorizes the
establishment of apportionments for pot gear. In October 2013, the
Council recommended proposed halibut PSC limits of 1,973 mt for trawl
gear and 300 mt for hook-and-line gear for the 2014 and 2015 groundfish
fisheries.
With respect to this proposed action, 10 mt of the 300 mt hook-and-
line halibut PSC limit is further allocated to the DSR fishery in the
SEO District. The DSR fishery is defined at Sec. 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(A).
This fishery has been apportioned 10 mt of the halibut PSC limit in
recognition of its small-scale harvests of groundfish.
Most vessels in the DSR fishery are less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length
overall and until 2013, have been exempt from observer coverage.
Therefore, observer data were not available to verify actual halibut
bycatch amounts. In 2013, NMFS implemented a restructured observer
program in the GOA groundfish fisheries. Observers were placed on
vessels between 40 and 60 feet length overall, which has provided
additional data about groundfish and halibut PSC. NMFS does not yet
have complete data from 2013 to evaluate halibut PSC use in the DSR
fishery. NMFS estimates low halibut bycatch in the DSR fishery because
(1) the duration of the DSR fisheries and the gear soak times are
short, (2) the DSR fishery occurs in the winter when less overlap
occurs in the distribution of DSR and halibut, and (3) the directed
commercial DSR fishery has a low DSR TAC. The Alaska Department of Fish
and Game sets the GHL for the DSR fishery after estimates of DSR
incidental catch in all fisheries (including halibut and subsistence)
and allocation to the DSR sport fish fishery have been deducted. Of the
303 mt TAC for DSR in 2013, 249 mt were available for the DSR
commercial directed fishery, of which 212 mt were harvested.
The FMP authorizes the Council to exempt specific gear from the
halibut PSC limits. NMFS, after consultation with the Council, proposes
to exempt pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear
fishery categories from the non-trawl halibut PSC limit for 2014 and
2015. The Council recommended, and NMFS is proposing, these exemptions
because (1) pot gear fisheries have low annual halibut bycatch
mortality, (2) IFQ program regulations prohibit discard of halibut if
any halibut IFQ permit holder on board a CV holds unused halibut IFQ
(Sec. 679.7(f)(11)), (3) sablefish IFQ fishermen typically hold
halibut IFQ permits and are therefore required to retain the halibut
they catch while fishing sablefish IFQ, and (4) NMFS estimates
negligible halibut mortality for the jig gear fisheries. NMFS estimates
halibut mortality is negligible in the jig gear fisheries given the
small amount of groundfish harvested by jig gear, the selective nature
of jig gear, and the high survival rates of halibut caught and released
with jig gear.
NMFS implemented a restructured observer program in 2013 (77 FR
70062, November 21, 2012). The restructured observer program provides
data on fisheries that have previously been unobserved or were subject
to very limited observer coverage. Specifically, the restructured
observer program will improve biological and fisheries data, including
halibut PSC, for pot and sablefish IFQ fisheries. NMFS will continue to
review halibut PSC data collected in pot and sablefish IFQ fisheries in
2013, and provide input to the GOA Plan Team and Council. These data
could be considered in future years when deciding whether to exempt
specific gear from halibut PSC limits.
Section 679.21(d)(5) authorizes NMFS to seasonally apportion the
halibut PSC limits after consultation with the Council. The FMP and
regulations require that the Council and NMFS consider the following
information in seasonally apportioning halibut PSC limits: (1) Seasonal
distribution of halibut, (2) seasonal distribution of target groundfish
species relative to halibut distribution, (3) expected halibut bycatch
needs on a seasonal basis relative to changes in halibut biomass and
expected catch of target groundfish species, (4) expected bycatch rates
on a seasonal basis, (5) expected changes in directed groundfish
fishing seasons, (6) expected actual start of fishing effort, and (7)
economic effects of establishing seasonal halibut allocations on
segments of the target groundfish industry.
The final 2013 and 2014 harvest specifications (78 FR 13162,
February 26, 2013) summarized the Council's and NMFS' findings with
respect to halibut PSC for each of these FMP considerations. The
Council's and NMFS' findings for 2014 and 2015 are unchanged from 2013.
Table 9 lists the proposed 2014 and 2015 Pacific halibut PSC limits,
allowances, and apportionments. Section 679.21(d)(5)(iii) and (iv)
specify that any underages or overages of a seasonal apportionment of a
PSC limit will be deducted from or added to the next respective
seasonal apportionment within the fishing year.
Table 9--Proposed 2014 and 2015 Pacific Halibut PSC Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments
[Values are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl gear Hook-and-line gear \1\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other than DSR DSR
Season Percent Amount -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season Percent Amount Season Amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1...................... 27.5 543 January 1-June 10.......... 86 250 January 1-December 31..... 10
April 1-July 1.......................... 20 395 June 10-September 1........ 2 5
July 1-September 1...................... 30 592 September 1-December 31.... 12 35
September 1-October 1................... 7.5 148 ........................... ......... ......... .......................... .........
October 1-December 31................... 15 296 ......... ......... .........
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................... ......... 1,973 ........................... ......... 290 .......................... 10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific halibut PSC limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery and fisheries other than DSR. The
hook-and-line IFQ sablefish fishery is exempt from halibut PSC limits, as are pot and jig gear for all groundfish fisheries.
[[Page 74091]]
Section 679.21(d)(3)(ii) authorizes further apportionment of the
trawl halibut PSC limit as bycatch allowances to trawl fishery
categories. The annual apportionments are based on each category's
proportional share of the anticipated halibut bycatch mortality during
a fishing year and optimization of the total amount of groundfish
harvest under the halibut PSC limit. The fishery categories for the
trawl halibut PSC limits are (1) a deep-water species fishery, composed
of sablefish, rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, and arrowtooth
flounder; and (2) a shallow-water species fishery, composed of pollock,
Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole, Atka mackerel, and
``other species'' (skates, sharks, squids, sculpins, and octopuses)
(Sec. 679.21(d)(3)(iii)). Table 10 lists the proposed 2014 and 2015
seasonal apportionments of trawl halibut PSC limits between the trawl
gear deep-water and the shallow-water species fisheries. Based on
public comment and the information presented in the final 2013 SAFE
report, the Council may recommend or NMFS may make changes to the
seasonal, gear-type, or fishery category apportionments of halibut PSC
limits for the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications.
Table 10--Proposed 2014 and 2015 Seasonal Apportionments of the Pacific Halibut PSC Limit Apportioned Between
the Trawl Gear Shallow-Water and Deep-Water Species Fisheries
(Values are in metric tons)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season Shallow-water Deep-water \1\ Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1...................... 444 99.............................. 543
April 1-July 1.......................... 99 296............................. 395
July 1-September 1...................... 197 395............................. 592
September 1-October 1................... 148 Any remainder................... 148
====================
Subtotal, January 20-October 1...... 888 789............................. 1,677
October 1-December 31 \2\............... ................. ................................ 296
====================
Total........................... ................. ................................ 1,973
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Vessels participating in cooperatives in the Rockfish Program will receive 191 mt of the third season (July
1 through September 1) deep-water species fishery halibut PSC apportionment.
\2\ There is no apportionment between trawl shallow-water and deep-water species fisheries during the fifth
season (October 1 through December 31).
Section 679.21(d)(4) requires that the ``other than DSR'' halibut
PSC apportionment to vessels using hook-and-line gear must be divided
between CVs and C/Ps. NMFS must calculate the halibut PSC limit
apportionments for the entire GOA to hook-and-line CVs and C/Ps in
accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(B)(1) and (2) in conjunction
with these harvest specifications. A comprehensive description and
example of the calculations necessary to apportion the ``other than
DSR'' hook-and-line halibut PSC limit between the hook-and-line CV and
C/P sectors were included in the proposed rule to implement Amendment
83 (76 FR 44700, July 26, 2011) and is not repeated here.
For 2014 and 2015, NMFS proposes annual halibut PSC limit
allocations of 166 mt to hook-and-line CVs and 124 mt to hook-and-line
C/P sectors. In addition, these annual halibut PSC limits are divided
into three seasonal apportionments, using seasonal percentages of 86
percent, 2 percent, and 12 percent. Table 11 lists the proposed 2014
and 2015 annual halibut PSC limits and seasonal apportionments between
the hook-and-line sectors in the GOA.
No later than November 1 of each year, NMFS calculates the
projected unused amount of halibut PSC limit by either of the hook-and-
line sectors for the remainder of the year. The projected unused amount
of halibut PSC limit is made available to the other hook-and-line
sector for the remainder of that fishing year if NMFS determines that
an additional amount of halibut PSC limit is necessary for that sector
to continue its directed fishing operations (Sec.
679.21(d)(4)(iii)(B)(3)).
Table 11--Proposed 2014 and 2015 Apportionments of the ``Other Hook-and-Line Fisheries'' Halibut PSC Allowance Between the Hook-and-Line Gear Catcher
Vessel and Catcher/Processor Sectors
[Values are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent of Sector Sector
``Other than DSR'' allowance Hook-and- line sector annual annual Season Seasonal seasonal
allowance amount percentage amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
290.................................... Catcher Vessel............ 57.3 166 January 1-June 10.............. 86 143
June 10-September 1............ 2 3
September 1-December 31........ 12 20
Catcher/Processor......... 42.7 124 January 1-June 10.............. 86 106
June 10-September 1............ 2 2
September 1-December 31........ 12 15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Halibut Bycatch in Prior Years
The best available information on estimated halibut bycatch
consists of data collected by fisheries observers during 2013. The
calculated halibut bycatch mortality through November 2, 2013, is 1,076
mt for trawl gear, 145 mt for hook-and-line gear, and 13 mt for pot
gear for a total halibut mortality of 1,234 mt. This halibut mortality
was calculated using groundfish and halibut catch data from the NMFS
Alaska Region's catch accounting system. This system contains
historical and recent
[[Page 74092]]
catch information compiled from each Alaska groundfish fishery.
Halibut bycatch restrictions seasonally constrained trawl gear
fisheries during the 2013 fishing year. Table 12 lists the closure
dates for fisheries that resulted from the attainment of seasonal or
annual halibut PSC limits.
Table 12--2013 Fishery Closures Due to Attainment of Pacific Halibut PSC Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fishery category Opening date Closure date Federal Register citation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl Deep-water,\1\ season 2.. April 1, 2013..... May 18, 2013...... 78 FR 12195, May 22, 2013.
Hook-and-line gear, all sectors January 1, 2013... Remains open
and targets \2\.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ With the exception of vessels participating in the Rockfish Program and vessels fishing for pollock using
pelagic trawl gear.
\2\ With the exception of the IFQ sablefish fishery, which is open March 23, 2013, through November 7, 2013.
Halibut Discard Mortality Rates
To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments,
the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut incidental catch
rates, discard mortality rates (DMRs), and estimates of groundfish
catch to project when a fishery's halibut bycatch mortality allowance
or seasonal apportionment is reached. The DMRs are based on the best
information available, including information contained in the annual
SAFE report.
NMFS proposes the Council's recommendation that the halibut DMRs
developed and recommended by the International Pacific Halibut
Commission (IPHC) for the 2013 through 2015 GOA groundfish fisheries be
used to monitor the proposed 2014 and 2015 halibut bycatch mortality
allowances (see Tables 9 through 11). The IPHC developed the DMRs for
the 2013 through 2015 GOA groundfish fisheries using the 10-year mean
DMRs for those fisheries. Long-term average DMRs were not available for
some fisheries, so rates from the most recent years were used. For the
sculpin, shark, squid, skate, and octopus fisheries, where insufficient
mortality data are available, the mortality rate of halibut caught in
the Pacific cod fishery for that gear type was recommended as a default
rate. The IPHC will analyze observer data annually and recommend
changes to the DMRs when a fishery DMR shows large variation from the
mean. A discussion of the DMRs and how the IPHC establishes them is
available from the Council (see ADDRESSES). Table 13 lists the proposed
2014 and 2015 DMRs.
Table 13--Proposed 2014 and 2015 Halibut Discard Mortality Rates for
Vessels Fishing in the Gulf of Alaska
[Values are percent of halibut assumed to be dead]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gear Target fishery Mortality rate (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line................ Other fisheries 11
\1\.
Skates.......... 11
Pacific cod..... 11
Rockfish........ 9
Trawl........................ Arrowtooth 73
flounder.
Deep-water 43
flatfish.
Flathead sole... 65
Non-pelagic 60
pollock.
Other fisheries. 62
Pacific cod..... 62
Pelagic pollock. 71
Rex sole........ 69
Rockfish........ 66
Sablefish....... 71
Shallow-water 67
flatfish.
Pot.......................... Other fisheries. 17
Pacific cod..... 17
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Other fisheries includes all gear types for Atka mackerel, sculpins,
sharks, squids, octopuses, and hook-and-line sablefish.
Chinook Salmon Prohibited Species Catch Limits
Amendment 93 to the FMP (77 FR 42629, July 20, 2012) established
separate Chinook salmon PSC limits in the Western and Central GOA in
the directed pollock fishery. These limits require NMFS to close the
pollock directed fishery in the Western and Central regulatory areas of
the GOA if the applicable limit is reached (Sec. 679.21(h)(6)). The
annual Chinook salmon PSC limits in the pollock directed fishery of
6,684 salmon in the Western GOA and 18,316 salmon in the Central GOA
are set in regulation at Sec. 679.21(h)(2)(i) and (ii). In addition,
all salmon (regardless of species), taken in the pollock directed
fisheries in the Western and Central GOA must be retained until an
observer at the processing facility that takes delivery of the catch is
provided an opportunity to count the number of salmon and to collect
any scientific data or biological samples from the salmon (Sec.
679.21(h)(4)).
American Fisheries Act (AFA) Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel
Groundfish Sideboard Limits
Section 679.64 establishes groundfish harvesting and processing
sideboard limits on AFA C/Ps and CVs in the GOA. These sideboard limits
are necessary to protect the interests of fishermen and processors who
do not directly benefit from the AFA from
[[Page 74093]]
those fishermen and processors who receive exclusive harvesting and
processing privileges under the AFA. Section 679.7(k)(1)(ii) prohibits
listed AFA C/Ps from harvesting any species of fish in the GOA.
Additionally, Sec. 679.7(k)(1)(iv) prohibits listed AFA C/Ps from
processing any pollock harvested in a directed pollock fishery in the
GOA and any groundfish harvested in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA.
AFA CVs that are less than 125 ft (38.1 meters) length overall,
have annual landings of pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
of less than 5,100 mt, and have made at least 40 landings of GOA
groundfish from 1995 through 1997 are exempt from GOA sideboard limits
under Sec. 679.64(b)(2)(ii). Sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA CVs
operating in the GOA are based on their traditional harvest levels of
TAC in groundfish fisheries covered by the FMP. Section
679.64(b)(3)(iii) establishes the groundfish sideboard limitations in
the GOA based on the retained catch of non-exempt AFA CVs of each
sideboard species from 1995 through 1997 divided by the TAC for that
species over the same period.
Table 14 lists the proposed 2014 and 2015 groundfish sideboard
limits for non-exempt AFA CVs. NMFS will deduct all targeted or
incidental catch of sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA CVs from
the sideboard limits listed in Table 14.
Table 14--Proposed 2014 and 2015 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest
Sideboard Limits
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed
Ratio of 1995- 2014 and
1997 non- Proposed 2015 non-
Species Apportionments by Area/component exempt AFA CV 2014 and exempt AFA
season/gear catch to 1995- 2015 TACs CV
1997 TAC sideboard
limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock........................ A Season, January Shumagin (610)... 0.6047 3,921 2,371
20-March 10.
Chirikof (620)... 0.1167 15,015 1,752
Kodiak (630)..... 0.2028 5,480 1,112
B Season, March 10- Shumagin (610)... 0.6047 3,921 2,371
May 31.
Chirikof (620)... 0.1167 18,102 2,112
Kodiak (630)..... 0.2028 2,393 485
C Season, August Shumagin (610)... 0.6047 8,903 5,384
25-October 1.
Chirikof (620)... 0.1167 6,943 810
Kodiak (630)..... 0.2028 8,570 1,738
D Season, October Shumagin (610)... 0.6047 8,903 5,384
1-November 1.
Chirikof (620)... 0.1167 6,943 810
Kodiak (630)..... 0.2028 8,570 1,738
Annual............ WYK (640)........ 0.3495 3,093 1,081
SEO (650)........ 0.3495 10,774 3,766
Pacific cod.................... A Season \1\, W................ 0.1331 13,262 1,765
January 1-June 10.
C................ 0.0692 23,113 1,599
B Season \2\, W................ 0.1331 8,841 1,177
September 1-
December 31.
C................ 0.0692 15,409 1,066
Annual............ E inshore........ 0.0079 2,273 18
E offshore....... 0.0078 253 2
Sablefish...................... Annual, trawl gear W................ 0.0000 328 0
C................ 0.0642 1,039 67
E................ 0.0433 245 11
Flatfish, shallow-water........ Annual............ W................ 0.0156 13,250 207
C................ 0.0587 18,000 1,057
E................ 0.0126 5,391 68
Flatfish, deep-water........... Annual............ W................ 0.0000 176
C................ 0.0647 2,308 149
E................ 0.0128 2,642 34
Rex sole....................... Annual............ W................ 0.0007 1,287 1
C................ 0.0384 6,310 242
E................ 0.0029 1,645 5
Arrowtooth flounder............ Annual............ W................ 0.0021 14,500 30
C................ 0.0280 75,000 2,100
E................ 0.0002 13,800 3
Flathead sole.................. Annual............ W................ 0.0036 8,650 31
C................ 0.0213 15,400 328
E................ 0.0009 6,582 6
Pacific ocean perch............ Annual............ W................ 0.0023 2,005 5
C................ 0.0748 10,740 803
E................ 0.0466 3,388 158
Northern rockfish.............. Annual............ W................ 0.0003 1,899 1
C................ 0.0277 2,951 82
[[Page 74094]]
Shortraker rockfish............ Annual............ W................ 0.0000 104 0
C................ 0.0218 452 10
E................ 0.0110 525 6
Dusky rockfish................. Annual............ W................ 0.0001 354 0
C................ 0.0000 3,317 0
E................ 0.0067 742 5
Rougheye rockfish.............. Annual............ W................ 0.0000 83 0
C................ 0.0237 871 21
E................ 0.0124 300 4
Demersal shelf rockfish........ Annual............ SEO.............. 0.0020 303 1
Thornyhead rockfish............ Annual............ W................ 0.0280 150 4
C................ 0.0280 766 21
E................ 0.0280 749 21
Other Rockfish................. Annual............ W................ 0.0034 44 0
C................ 0.1699 606 103
E................ 0.0000 430 0
Atka mackerel.................. Annual............ Gulfwide......... 0.0309 2,000 62
Big skates..................... Annual............ W................ 0.0063 469 3
C................ 0.0063 1,793 11
E................ 0.0063 1,505 9
Longnose skates................ Annual............ W................ 0.0063 70 0
C................ 0.0063 1,879 12
E................ 0.0063 676 4
Other skates................... Annual............ Gulfwide......... 0.0063 2,030 13
Squids......................... Annual............ Gulfwide......... 0.0063 5,884 37
Sharks......................... Annual............ Gulfwide......... 0.0063 6,028 38
Octopuses...................... Annual............ Gulfwide......... 0.0063 1,148 7
Sculpins....................... Annual............ Gulfwide......... 0.0063 1,455 9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
Non-Exempt AFA Catcher Vessel Halibut PSC Limits
The halibut PSC sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA CVs in the GOA
are based on the aggregate retained groundfish catch by non-exempt AFA
CVs in each PSC target category from 1995 through 1997 divided by the
retained catch of all vessels in that fishery from 1995 through 1997
(Sec. 679.64(b)(4)). Table 15 lists the proposed 2014 and 2015 non-
exempt AFA CV halibut PSC limits for vessels using trawl gear in the
GOA.
Table 15--Proposed 2014 and 2015 Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Halibut Prohibited Species
Catch (PSC) Limits for Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the GOA
[PSC limits are rounded to the nearest whole metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1995-
1997 non- Proposed 2014
exempt AFA CV Proposed 2014 and 2015 non-
Season Season dates Target fishery retained catch and 2015 PSC exempt AFA CV
to total limit PSC limit
retained catch
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.................... January 20-April 1.. shallow-water...... 0.340 444 151
deep-water......... 0.070 99 7
2.................... April 1-July 1...... shallow-water...... 0.340 99 34
deep-water......... 0.070 296 21
3.................... July 1-September 1.. shallow-water...... 0.340 197 67
deep-water......... 0.070 395 28
4.................... September 1-October shallow-water...... 0.340 148 50
1.
deep-water......... 0.070 0 0
5.................... October 1-December all targets........ 0.205 296 61
31.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 74095]]
Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish Sideboard Limits
Section 680.22 establishes groundfish catch limits for vessels with
a history of participation in the Bering Sea snow crab fishery to
prevent these vessels from using the increased flexibility provided by
the Crab Rationalization Program to expand their level of participation
in the GOA groundfish fisheries. Sideboard limits restrict these
vessels' catch to their collective historical landings in each GOA
groundfish fishery (except the fixed-gear sablefish fishery). Sideboard
limits also apply to landings made using an LLP license derived from
the history of a restricted vessel, even if that LLP license is used on
another vessel.
The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the
final rules implementing the major provisions of the Crab
Rationalization Program, including Amendments 18 and 19 to the Fishery
Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs
(Crab FMP) (70 FR 10174, March 2, 2005) and Amendment 34 to the Crab
FMP (76 FR 35772, June 20, 2011). In addition, Amendment 83 to the GOA
FMP (76 FR 74670, December 1, 2011) further modified the calculation of
these sideboard limits.
Table 16 lists these proposed 2014 and 2015 groundfish sideboard
limitations for non-AFA crab vessels. All targeted or incidental catch
of sideboard species made by non-AFA crab vessels or associated LLP
licenses will be deducted from these sideboard limits.
Table 16--Proposed 2014 and 2015 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limits
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed
Ratio of 1996- 2014 and
2000 non-AFA Proposed 2015 non-
Species Season/gear Area/component/ crab vessel 2014 and AFA crab
gear catch to 1996- 2015 TACs vessel
2000 total sideboard
harvest limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock........................ A Season, January Shumagin (610)... 0.0098 3,921 38
20-March 10.
Chirikof (620)... 0.0031 15,015 47
Kodiak (630)..... 0.0002 5,481 1
B Season, March 10- Shumagin (610)... 0.0098 3,920 38
May 31.
Chirikof (620)... 0.0031 18,102 56
Kodiak (630)..... 0.0002 2,393 0
C Season, August Shumagin (610)... 0.0098 8,903 87
25-October 1.
Chirikof (620)... 0.0031 6,944 22
Kodiak (630)..... 0.0002 8,568 2
D Season, October Shumagin (610)... 0.0098 8,903 87
1-November 1.
Chirikof (620)... 0.0031 6,944 22
Kodiak (630)..... 0.0002 8,568 2
Annual............ WYK (640)........ 0.0000 3,093 0
SEO (650)........ 0.0000 10,774 0
Pacific cod.................... A Season,\1\ W Jig CV......... 0.0000 13,262 0
January 1-June 10.
W Hook-and-line 0.0004 13,262 5
CV.
W Hook-and-line C/ 0.0018 13,262 24
P.
W Pot CV......... 0.0997 13,262 1,322
W Pot C/P........ 0.0078 13,262 103
W Trawl CV....... 0.0007 13,262 9
C Jig CV......... 0.0000 23,113 0
C Hook-and-line 0.0001 23,113 2
CV.
C Hook-and-line C/ 0.0012 23,113 28
P.
C Pot CV......... 0.0474 23,113 1,096
C Pot C/P........ 0.0136 23,113 314
C Trawl CV....... 0.0012 23,113 28
B Season,\2\ W Jig CV......... 0.0000 8,841 0
September 1-
December 31.
W Hook-and-line 0.0004 8,841 4
CV.
W Hook-and-line C/ 0.0018 8,841 16
P.
W Pot CV......... 0.0997 8,841 881
W Pot C/P........ 0.0078 8,841 69
W Trawl CV....... 0.0007 8,841 6
C Jig CV......... 0.0000 15,409 0
C Hook-and-line 0.0001 15,409 2
CV.
C Hook-and-line C/ 0.0012 15,409 18
P.
C Pot CV......... 0.0474 15,409 730
C Pot C/P........ 0.0136 15,409 210
C Trawl CV....... 0.0012 15,409 18
Annual............ E inshore........ 0.0110 2,273 25
E offshore....... 0.0000 253 0
Sablefish...................... Annual, trawl gear W................ 0.0000 328 0
C................ 0.0000 1,039 0
[[Page 74096]]
E................ 0.0000 245 0
Flatfish, shallow-water........ Annual............ W................ 0.0059 13,250 78
C................ 0.0001 18,000 2
E................ 0.0000 5,391 0
Flatfish, deep-water........... Annual............ W................ 0.0035 176 1
C................ 0.0000 2,308 0
E................ 0.0000 2,642 0
Rex sole....................... Annual............ W................ 0.0000 1,287 0
C................ 0.0000 6,310 0
E................ 0.0000 1,645 0
Arrowtooth flounder............ Annual............ W................ 0.0004 14,500 6
C................ 0.0001 75,000 8
E................ 0.0000 13,800 0
Flathead sole.................. Annual............ W................ 0.0002 8,650 2
C................ 0.0004 15,400 6
E................ 0.0000 6,582 0
Pacific ocean perch............ Annual............ W................ 0.0000 2,005 0
C................ 0.0000 10,740 0
E................ 0.0000 3,388 0
Northern rockfish.............. Annual............ W................ 0.0005 1,899 1
C................ 0.0000 2,951 0
Shortraker rockfish............ Annual............ W................ 0.0013 104 0
C................ 0.0012 452 1
E................ 0.0009 525 0
Dusky rockfish................. Annual............ W................ 0.0017 354 1
C................ 0.0000 3,317 0
E................ 0.0000 742 0
Rougheye rockfish.............. Annual............ W................ 0.0067 83 1
C................ 0.0047 871 4
E................ 0.0008 300 0
Demersal shelf rockfish........ Annual............ SEO.............. 0.0000 303 0
Thornyhead rockfish............ Annual............ W................ 0.0047 150 1
C................ 0.0066 766 5
E................ 0.0045 749 3
Other rockfish................. Annual............ W................ 0.0035 44 0
C................ 0.0033 606 2
E................ 0.0000 430 0
Atka mackerel.................. Annual............ Gulfwide......... 0.0000 2,000 0
Big skate...................... Annual............ W................ 0.0392 469 18
C................ 0.0159 1,793 29
E................ 0.0000 1,505 0
Longnose skate................. Annual............ W................ 0.0392 70 3
C................ 0.0159 1,879 30
E................ 0.0000 676 0
Other skates................... Annual............ Gulfwide......... 0.0176 2,030 36
Sculpins....................... Annual............ Gulfwide......... 0.0176 5,884 104
Sharks......................... Annual............ Gulfwide......... 0.0176 6,028 106
Squids......................... Annual............ Gulfwide......... 0.0176 1,148 20
Octopuses...................... Annual............ Gulfwide......... 0.0176 1,455 26
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
Rockfish Program Groundfish Sideboard and Halibut PSC Limitations
The Rockfish Program establishes three classes of sideboard
provisions: CV groundfish sideboard restrictions, C/P rockfish
sideboard restrictions, and C/P opt-out vessel sideboard restrictions.
These sideboards are intended to limit the ability of rockfish
harvesters to expand into other fisheries.
CVs participating in the Rockfish Program may not participate in
directed fishing for dusky rockfish, northern rockfish, and Pacific
ocean perch in the Western GOA and West Yakutat Districts from July 1
through July 31. Also, CVs may not participate in directed fishing for
arrowtooth flounder, deep-water flatfish, and rex sole in the GOA from
July 1 through July 31 (Sec. 679.82(d)).
Catcher/processors participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives
are restricted by rockfish and halibut PSC sideboard limits. These C/Ps
are prohibited from directed fishing for
[[Page 74097]]
northern rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and dusky rockfish in the
Western GOA and West Yakutat District from July 1 through July 31.
Holders of C/P-designated LLP licenses that opt-out of participating in
a rockfish cooperative will receive the portion of each sideboard limit
that is not assigned to rockfish cooperatives. Table 17 lists the
proposed 2014 and 2015 Rockfish Program C/P rockfish sideboard limits
in the Western GOA and West Yakutat District. Due to confidentiality
requirements associated with fisheries data, the sideboard limits for
the West Yakutat District are not displayed.
Table 17--Proposed 2014 and 2015 Rockfish Program Harvest Limits for the Western GOA and West Yakutat District
by Fishery for the Catcher/Processor Sector
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed 2014
Area Fishery C/P sector (% of TAC) Proposed 2014 and 2015 C/P
and 2015 TACs limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western GOA...................... Dusky rockfish...... 72.3................... 354 256
Pacific ocean perch. 50.6................... 2,005 1,015
Northern rockfish... 74.3................... 1,899 1,411
West Yakutat District............ Dusky rockfish...... Confid.\1\............. 465 N/A
Pacific ocean perch. Confid.\1\............. 1,613 N/A
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Not released due to confidentiality requirements associated with fish ticket data established by NMFS and
the State of Alaska.
The C/P sector is subject to halibut PSC sideboard limits for the
trawl deep-water and shallow-water species fisheries from July 1
through July 31. No halibut PSC sideboard limits apply to the CV sector
as vessels participating in a rockfish cooperative receive a portion of
the annual halibut PSC limit. C/Ps that opt-out of the Rockfish Program
would be able to access that portion of the deep-water and shallow-
water halibut PSC sideboard limit not assigned to C/P rockfish
cooperatives. The sideboard provisions for C/Ps that elect to opt-out
of participating in a rockfish cooperative are described in Sec.
679.82(c), (e), and (f). Sideboards are linked to the catch history of
specific vessels that may choose to opt-out. The applications for C/Ps
electing to opt-out are due to NMFS on March 1 of each calendar year;
therefore, NMFS cannot calculate proposed 2014 and 2015 allocations.
Once opt-out applications (if any) are received in 2014, the ratios and
amounts used to calculate opt-out sideboard ratios will be known. NMFS
will then calculate any applicable opt-out sideboards and post these
allocations on the Alaska Region Web site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/goarat/default.htm) when
they have been prepared.
Table 18 lists the 2014 and 2015 proposed Rockfish Program halibut
PSC limits for the C/P sector.
Table 18--Proposed 2014 and 2015 Rockfish Program Halibut Mortality Limits for the Catcher/Processor Sector
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shallow-water Deep-water Annual shallow- Annual deep-
species fishery species fishery Annual halibut water species water species
Sector halibut PSC halibut PSC mortality limit fishery halibut fishery halibut
sideboard ratio sideboard ratio (mt) PSC sideboard PSC sideboard
(percent) (percent) limit (mt) limit (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher/processor.................................................. 0.10 2.50 1,973 2 49
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If approved by the Secretary, implementation of Amendment 95 would
phase in a 15-percent reduction to the Rockfish Program halibut PSC
sideboard limits.
Amendment 80 Program Groundfish Sideboard and PSC Limits
Amendment 80 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (Amendment 80 Program)
established a limited access privilege program for the non-AFA trawl C/
P sector. To limit the ability of participants eligible for the
Amendment 80 Program to expand their harvest efforts in the GOA, the
Amendment 80 Program established groundfish and halibut PSC limits for
Amendment 80 Program participants.
Section 679.92 establishes groundfish harvesting sideboard limits
on all Amendment 80 Program vessels, other than the F/V Golden Fleece,
to amounts no greater than the limits shown in Table 37 to part 679.
Under regulations at Sec. 679.92(d), the F/V Golden Fleece is
prohibited from directed fishing for pollock, Pacific cod, Pacific
ocean perch, dusky rockfish, and northern rockfish in the GOA.
Groundfish sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels
operating in the GOA are based on their average aggregate harvests from
1998 to 2004. Table 19 lists the proposed 2014 and 2015 sideboard
limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels. NMFS will deduct all targeted
or incidental catch of sideboard species made by Amendment 80 Program
vessels from the sideboard limits in Table 19.
[[Page 74098]]
Table 19--Proposed 2014 and 2015 GOA Groundfish Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of Proposed 2014
Amendment 80 and 2015
sector Proposed 2014 Amendment 80
Species Season Area vessels 1998- and 2015 TAC vessel
2004 catch to (mt) sideboards
TAC (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock...................... A Season, Shumagin (610). 0.003 3,921 12
January 20- Chirikof (620). 0.002 15,015 30
February 25. Kodiak (630)... 0.002 5,481 11
B Season, March Shumagin (610). 0.003 3,920 12
10-May 31. Chirikof (620). 0.002 18,102 36
Kodiak (630)... 0.002 2,393 5
C Season, August Shumagin (610). 0.003 8,903 27
25-September 15. Chirikof (620). 0.002 6,944 14
Kodiak (630)... 0.002 8,568 17
D Season, Shumagin (610). 0.003 8,903 27
October 1- Chirikof (620). 0.002 6,944 14
November 1. Kodiak (630)... 0.002 8,568 17
Annual.......... WYK (640)...... 0.002 3,093 6
Pacific cod.................. A Season,\1\ W.............. 0.020 13,262 265
January 1-June C.............. 0.044 23,113 1,017
10.
B Season,\2\ W.............. 0.020 8,841 177
September 1- C.............. 0.044 15,409 678
December 31.
Annual.......... WYK............ 0.034 2,526 86
Pacific ocean perch.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.994 2,005 1,993
WYK............ 0.961 1,613 1,550
Northern rockfish............ Annual.......... W.............. 1.000 1,899 1,899
Dusky rockfish............... Annual.......... W.............. 0.764 354 270
WYK............ 0.896 465 417
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
The halibut PSC sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels
in the GOA are based on the historic use of halibut PSC by Amendment 80
Program vessels in each PSC target category from 1998 through 2004.
These values are slightly lower than the average historic use to
accommodate two factors: Allocation of halibut PSC cooperative quota
under the Rockfish Program and the exemption of the F/V Golden Fleece
from this restriction (Sec. 679.92(b)(2)).
Table 20 lists the proposed 2014 and 2015 halibut PSC limits for
Amendment 80 Program vessels, as contained in Table 38 to 50 CFR part
679.
Table 20--Proposed 2014 and 2015 Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels in the GOA
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Historic Proposed 2014
Amendment 80 Proposed 2014 and 2015
use of the and 2015 Amendment 80
Season Season dates Fishery category annual halibut annual PSC vessel PSC
PSC limit limit (mt) sideboard
(ratio) limit (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.................... January 20-April 1.. shallow-water...... 0.0048 1,973 9
deep-water......... 0.0115 1,973 23
2.................... April 1-July 1...... shallow-water...... 0.0189 1,973 37
deep-water......... 0.1072 1,973 212
3.................... July 1-September 1.. shallow-water...... 0.0146 1,973 29
deep-water......... 0.0521 1,973 103
4.................... September 1-October shallow-water...... 0.0074 1,973 15
1.
deep-water......... 0.0014 1,973 3
5.................... October 1-December shallow-water...... 0.0227 1,973 45
31.
deep-water......... 0.0371 1,973 73
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Classification
NMFS has determined that the proposed harvest specifications are
consistent with the FMP and preliminarily determined that the proposed
harvest specifications are consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and
other applicable laws.
This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866 and 13563.
NMFS prepared an EIS for this action and made it available to the
public on January 12, 2007 (72 FR 1512). On
[[Page 74099]]
February 13, 2007, NMFS issued the Record of Decision (ROD) for the
EIS. Copies of the EIS and ROD for this action are available from NMFS
(see ADDRESSES). The EIS analyzes the environmental consequences of the
proposed groundfish harvest specifications and alternative harvest
strategies on resources in the action area. The EIS found no
significant environmental consequences from the proposed action or its
alternatives.
NMFS prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) as
required by section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA),
analyzing the methodology for establishing the relevant TACs. The IRFA
evaluated the impacts on small entities of alternative harvest
strategies for the groundfish fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska. As set
forth in the methodology, TACs are set to a level that fall within the
range of ABCs recommended by the SSC; the sum of the TACs must achieve
the OY specified in the FMP. While the specific numbers that the
methodology produces may vary from year to year, the methodology itself
remains constant.
A description of the proposed action, why it is being considered,
and the legal basis for this proposed action are contained in the
preamble above. A copy of the analysis is available from NMFS (see
ADDRESSES). A summary of the IRFA follows.
The action under consideration is a harvest strategy to govern the
catch of groundfish in the GOA. The preferred alternative is the
existing harvest strategy in which TACs fall within the range of ABCs
recommended by the SSC. This action is taken in accordance with the FMP
prepared by the Council pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
The entities directly regulated by this action are those that
harvest groundfish in the EEZ of the GOA and in parallel fisheries
within State waters. These include entities operating CVs and C/Ps
within the action area and entities receiving direct allocations of
groundfish. On June 20, 2013, the Small Business Administration issued
a final rule revising the small business size standards for several
industries effective July 22, 2013 (78 FR 37398; June 20, 2013). The
rule increased the size standard for Finfish Fishing from $4.0 to 19.0
million, Shellfish Fishing from $4.0 to 5.0 million, and Other Marine
Fishing from $4.0 to 7.0 million. The new size standards were used to
prepare the IRFA for this action. Fishing vessels are considered small
entities if their total annual gross receipts, from all their
activities combined, are less than $19.0 million. The IRFA estimates
the number of harvesting vessels that are considered small entities,
but these estimates may overstate the number of small entities because
(1) some vessels may also be active as tender vessels in the salmon
fishery, fish in areas other than Alaska and the West Coast, or
generate revenue from other non-fishing sources; and (2) all
affiliations are not taken into account, especially if the vessel has
affiliations not tracked in available data (i.e., ownership of multiple
vessel or affiliation with processors) and may be misclassified as a
small entity
The IRFA shows that, in 2012, there were 1,424 individual catcher
vessels with gross revenues less than or equal to $19 million. Some of
these vessels are members of AFA inshore pollock cooperatives, GOA
rockfish cooperatives, or BSAI crab rationalization cooperatives.
Therefore, under the RFA, it is the aggregate gross receipts of all
participating members of the cooperative that must meet the ``under $19
million'' threshold. Vessels that participate in these cooperatives are
considered to be large entities within the meaning of the RFA. After
accounting for membership in these cooperatives, there are an estimated
1,378 small catcher vessel entities remaining in the GOA groundfish
sector. This latter group of small vessels had average gross revenues
of about $359,000. Additionally, data presented in the IRFA indicates
that in 2012, 32 catcher/processors grossed less than $19 million.
Twenty-five vessels in this group were estimated to be large entities
because of their affiliations with other vessels through an Amendment
80 cooperative and the Freezer Longline Conservation Cooperative. After
taking account of these affiliations, NMFS estimates that seven of
these vessels are small entities. The average gross revenue for these
seven small catcher/processor entities was $1.6 million.
The preferred alternative (Alternative 2) was compared to four
other alternatives. Alternative 1 would have set TACs to generate
fishing rates equal to the maximum permissible ABC (if the full TAC
were harvested), unless the sum of TACs exceeded the GOA OY, in which
case harvests would be limited to the OY. Alternative 3 would have set
TACs to produce fishing rates equal to the most recent 5-year average
fishing rate. Alternative 4 would have set TACs to equal the lower
limit of the GOA OY range. Alternative 5, the ``no action
alternative,'' would have set TACs equal to zero.
The TACs associated with the preferred harvest strategy are those
adopted by the Council in October 2013, as per Alternative 2. OFLs and
ABCs for the species were based on recommendations prepared by the
Council's GOA Plan Team in September 2013, and reviewed by the
Council's SSC in October 2013. The Council based its TAC
recommendations on those of its AP, which were consistent with the
SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations.
Alternative 1 selects harvest rates that would allow fishermen to
harvest stocks at the level of ABCs, unless total harvests were
constrained by the upper bound of the GOA OY of 800,000 mt. As shown in
Table 1 of the preamble, the sum of ABCs in 2014 and 2015 would be
584,094 mt, which falls below the upper bound of the OY range. The sum
of TACs is 427,068 mt, which is less than the sum of ABCs. In this
instance, Alternative 1 is consistent with the preferred alternative
(Alternative 2), meets the objectives of that action, and has small
entity impacts that are equivalent to the preferred alternative. In
some instances, the selection of Alternative 1 would not reflect the
practical implications that increased TACs (where the sum of TACs
equals the sum of ABCs) for some species probably would not be fully
harvested. This could be due to a lack of commercial or market interest
in such species. Additionally, an underharvest of some TACs could
result due to constraints such as the fixed, and therefore
constraining, PSC limits associated with the harvest of the GOA
groundfish species.
Alternative 3 selects harvest rates based on the most recent 5
years of harvest rates (for species in Tiers 1 through 3) or for the
most recent 5 years of harvests (for species in Tiers 4 through 6).
This alternative is inconsistent with the objectives of this action,
the Council's preferred harvest strategy, because it does not take
account of the most recent biological information for this fishery.
NMFS annually conducts at-sea stock surveys for different species, as
well as statistical modeling, to estimate stock sizes and permissible
harvest levels. Actual harvest rates or harvest amounts are a component
of these estimates, but in and of themselves may not accurately portray
stock sizes and conditions. Harvest rates are listed for each species
category for each year in the SAFE report (see ADDRESSES).
Alternative 4 reduces the TACs from the upper end of the OY range
in the GOA, to its lower end of 116,000 mt, which would lead to
significantly lower harvests of all species. Overall, this would reduce
2014 TACs by about 73 percent and would lead to significant reductions
in harvests of species harvested by small entities. While reductions of
this size would be
[[Page 74100]]
associated with offsetting price increases, the size of these increases
is very uncertain. There are close substitutes for GOA groundfish
species available in significant quantities from the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands management area. While production declines in the GOA
would undoubtedly be associated with significant price increases in the
GOA, these increases would still be constrained by production of
substitutes, and are very unlikely to offset revenue declines from
smaller production. Thus, this alternative would have a detrimental
impact on small entities.
Alternative 5, which sets all harvests equal to zero, would have a
significant adverse economic impact on small entities and would be
contrary to obligations to achieve OY on a continuing basis, as
mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Under Alternative 5, all 1,378
individual catcher vessels impacted by this rule would have gross
revenues of $0. Additionally, the seven small catcher/processor
impacted by this rule also would have gross revenues of $0.
The proposed harvest specifications (Alternative 2) extend the
current 2014 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs to 2014 and 2015. As noted in the
IRFA, the Council may modify these OFLs, ABCs, and TACs in December
2013, when it reviews the November 2013 SAFE reports from its
Groundfish Plan Teams, and the December 2013 meeting reports of its SSC
and AP. Because TACs in the proposed 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications are unchanged from the 2014 TACs, NMFS does not expect
adverse impacts on small entities. Also, NMFS does not expect any
changes made by the Council in December 2013 to have significant
adverse impacts on small entities.
This action does not modify recordkeeping or reporting
requirements, or duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any Federal
rules.
Adverse impacts on marine mammals or endangered species resulting
from fishing activities conducted under this rule are discussed in the
EIS and its accompanying annual SIRs (see ADDRESSES).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540(f); 16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 105-277; Pub. L. 106-
31; Pub. L. 106-554; Pub. L. 108-199; Pub. L. 108-447; Pub. L. 109-
241; Pub. L. 109-479.
Dated: December 3, 2013.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, performing the functions and
duties of the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-29354 Filed 12-9-13; 8:45 am]
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